*Photo:Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar, NEITI Executive Secretary*
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chair of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative National Stakeholders Working Group (NEITI NSWG), Senator George Akume has lauded the newly appointed Executive Secretary of NEITI, Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar.
Akume gave the commended in Abuja at a Stakeholders Engagement organised NEITI on Wednesday, 17th and 18th December, 2025, with the topic ADVOCACY DIALOGUE FOR STAKEHOLDERS ON NIGERIA’S 2026 EITI VALIDATION.
Represented by the President of Miners Association of Nigeria, Mr. Dele Ayanleke, Senator Akume, congratulated Hon. Adar, on his appointment and expressed confidence in his capacity to provide leadership as NEITI advances its transparency and accountability mandate.
*Mr. Dele Ayanleke*
In his welcome remark, Hon Adar, represented by the Director, Policy Planning and Strategy at NEITI, Dr Dieter Bassi, stated that the meeting was critical because Nigeria’s implementation of the EITI will be benchmarked against the EITI 2023 Standard.
“Having scored 72 out of 100 points in our last assessment in 2023, we are determined to achieve a better outcome this time”, the Executive Secretary noted.
Hon. Adar explained that the 2023 Standard specifically emphasizes robust, independent participation from civil society, the media, and sub-national actors. “It requires not just representation, but genuine influence on policy and governance outcomes,” he stressed.
He reiterated that Nigeria’s 2023 Validation identified specific gaps that demand immediate action.
“These are, strengthening our multi-stakeholder engagement mechanisms, providing a more structured, predictable and safe space for civil society participation, improving the accessibility and utility of extractive sector data and explicitly demonstrating how the EITI process contributes to real, impactful policy and extractive reforms across the country.”
He affirmed that NEITI’s objectives for the next two days are to provide clarity and shared ownership regarding the corrective actions identified in Nigeria’s 2023 Validation report, review the progress made, identify remaining gaps, jointly develop an implementable framework to address the identified challenges and elevate the essential role of non-state and sub-national actors in advancing Nigeria’s broader reform agenda.
The Director, Communications and Stakeholders’ Management at NEITI, Mrs Obiageli Onuorah, while presented an update on Nigeria’s EITI Validation Journey, focusing on transparency outcomes and stakeholder engagement impact.
*Mrs Obiageli Onuorah*
The Director, Energy and Mines at NEITI, Mr Saad Balarabe, presented a status update on Nigeria’s EITI Validation Journey, highlighting transparency outcomes and the impact of stakeholder engagement at the Advocacy Dialogue on Nigeria’s 2026 EITI Validation.
*Mr Saad Balarabe*
Mr Balarabe further noted that Civil Society has a critical role in mobilizing grassroots engagement, using NEITI data to inform citizens and the media on revenues from the extractive industries.
The Deputy Director, Policy, Planning and Strategy at NEITI, Mr Godwin Okpene, while giving a presentation on Civil Society inputs into Nigeria’s 2026 EITI Workplan, outlined participation requirements and evidence needed for its development. He further emphasized that the EITI Workplan must address the most relevant natural resource governance themes, aligned with Nigeria’s national priorities and reform objectives.
