The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has reaffirmed the country’s readiness for the upcoming global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Validation exercise scheduled to commence on July 1, 2026.
NEITI’s Executive Secretary, Hon. Musa Adar, gave the assurance during a consultative forum with civil society organisations in Abuja, according to a statement issued on Monday by the agency’s Director of Communications and Stakeholders Management, Obiageli Onuorah.
Adar said the National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) had systematically addressed all corrective actions identified during Nigeria’s previous validation exercise.
According to him, the issues resolved include stakeholder engagement, contract disclosure, resource-backed loans, subnational transfers, and transparency involving state-owned enterprises.
“Nigeria has taken deliberate steps to close gaps identified in the last validation. We are stronger, more coordinated, and ready to demonstrate our progress to the global EITI community,” Adar said.
He noted that NEITI had also engaged the three key stakeholder groups—government, civil society, and extractive companies—on the new validation model, reporting templates, and corrective actions.
Adar described the validation exercise as more than a compliance requirement, saying it reflects Nigeria’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance in the management of its extractive resources.
He added that NEITI is working closely with government agencies, extractive companies, civil society organisations, and development partners to ensure all disclosures and documentation required under the 2023 EITI Standard are complete and readily accessible.
According to him, the agency remains committed to ensuring that every corrective action is addressed and every stakeholder group is fully engaged before the validation exercise begins.
Adar also described the validation as an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s sustained commitment to reforms and continuous improvement in extractive sector governance.
He urged civil society organisations and the media to monitor audit recommendations, review institutional disclosures, engage with validation templates, and actively contribute to the process.
The Executive Secretary encouraged stakeholders to take ownership of Nigeria’s validation process and highlight the country’s progress in implementing global transparency standards.
Speaking at the forum, Dr. Erisa Danladi, Chair of the Communications and Civil Society Steering Committee and civil society representative on the NEITI Board, said the meeting was convened to validate stakeholder contributions to the EITI reporting template.
Also speaking, NEITI’s Director of Communications and Stakeholders Management, Obiageli Onuorah, said Nigeria had made significant progress in addressing previous corrective actions.
She cited the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between NEITI and the National Human Rights Commission to protect civic space, describing it as an innovative initiative that has received commendation from the global EITI community.
Faith Nwadishi of the Centre for Transparency urged civil society organisations to see the validation templates as tools for accountability and implementation rather than mere reporting documents.
She stressed that the documents should be used to hold covered institutions accountable for their obligations.
Other stakeholders, including NEITI Board representative Steven Akpan, Barrister Chima Williams, Emeka Ononamadu, and the Chairman of the Resource Justice Network, Mustapha Mohammed, expressed strong support for Nigeria’s validation process.
They described the validation exercise as an independent assessment of the country’s progress in implementing global transparency standards.
The stakeholders noted that Nigeria welcomes the process as an important mechanism for strengthening public trust, improving revenue accountability, and ensuring that the country’s natural resources contribute to sustainable national development.
