By Chidi Ugwu
Copyright independent
ABUJA – Nigeria has urged fellow resource-rich nations to transform the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) from a routine data-reporting checklist into a powerful driver of reform, accountability, and inclusive growth.
Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), made the call while addressing an international EITI Peer-Learning Session in Amman, Jordan.
According to a statement signed by Mrs Obiageli Onuorah, Director, Comms. & Stakeholders Management, which made available to newsmen at the weekend, the conference — organised with support from the World Bank — was designed to equip the Republic of Iraq with global lessons and practical models for implementing the EITI.
Dr. Orji explained that Nigeria’s EITI journey provides a living case study on how the initiative can be adapted to local contexts to confront the governance challenges of natural resource wealth.
“NEITI’s experience has shown that the EITI can deliver far more than public disclosure. It is a platform for institutional reform, citizens’ dialogue, accountability advocacy, and process re-engineering,” he stated.
He emphasised that peer learning is central to the EITI process, adding that Nigeria is committed to sharing its journey with Iraq and other countries in the Middle East while also learning from their experiences to strengthen ongoing reforms in the oil, gas, and mining sectors.
Dr. Orji welcomed the invitation extended to NEITI to share its expertise as Iraq joins the EITI as an implementing country.
Nigeria’s Unique and Replicable Innovations Dr. Orji highlighted several innovations that have shaped Nigeria’s success story and could guide other resource-rich nations: “Statutory Backing — NEITI Act (2007): One of the few EITI countries to enshrine transparency in law, giving reforms permanence across administrations and insulating them from political cycles; High-Impact Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG): Chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and composed of leaders with influence, credibility, and technical depth — elevating EITI beyond compliance to national policy relevance; Professional, Independent Secretariat: A technically skilled Secretariat that produces globally respected audits, policy briefs, and reform analyses informing fiscal planning and investment; Inter-Agency Task Team of 21 Anti-Corruption & Oversight Bodies: A pioneering Nigerian model linking EITI disclosures directly to enforcement, fiscal justice, and anti-corruption outcomes; Policy Brief Culture: Transforming complex audit findings into concise, actionable briefs used by legislators, MDAs, and development partners — turning transparency into reform decisions; Open Data & Technology Platforms: From the Beneficial Ownership Register to the soon-to-launch NEITI Data Center, Nigeria is mainstreaming digital tools that empower citizens, investors, and regulators; Integration with Fiscal Reforms: NEITI data has shaped critical policies such as the Treasury Single Account (TSA), fuel subsidy reform, and debates on subnational debt and revenue distribution; and Energy Transition & Climate Accountability Framework: Embedding emissions tracking, stranded-asset reporting, and just transition planning into EITI reporting — positioning Nigeria as a global reference point for linking transparency to climate goals.
