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EITI Appraises Nigeria’s Oil, Gas Industry Reforms
The Global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) team is in Nigeria to assess the impact, transparency and accountability in the oil, gas and mining sectors.
The validation mission, effective Monday, is part of the 2026 EITI’s Validation Exercise that commenced on July 1.
The exercise is particularly significant for Nigeria, as it provides an opportunity for the country to demonstrate how far it has implemented the corrective actions identified during its previous assessment and strengthened the governance of its natural resources.
The Nigeria EITI, in a statement issued on Sunday under the signature of its Director of Communications and Stakeholders Management, Obiageli Onuorah, said the arrival of the global assessors marked a major stage in the ongoing validation process.
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The mission is expected to run from August 10 to August 14, during which the assessors will conduct a comprehensive quality assurance assessment and consult a wide range of stakeholders involved in Nigeria’s extractive industries.
The statement read, “The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative announces the arrival of the Global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Validation Assessors as part of the ongoing 2026 EITI Validation Exercise which commenced on July 1st 2026. The presence of the EITI Mission in Nigeria marks a significant stage in Nigeria’s 2026 EITI Validation and forms part of the global EITI Validation process.
“During the mission, which commences August 10th 2026, the Validation Assessors will undertake a comprehensive quality assurance assessment and hold consultations with key stakeholders”
The stakeholders include government institutions, the National Assembly, oil, gas and mining companies, civil society organisations, development partners, anti-corruption agencies, host communities and the media.
The assessors will also meet senior government officials and key institutions involved in the management and oversight of Nigeria’s extractive resources.
Among those expected to meet the mission are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the NEITI Board, Senator George Akume; members of the NEITI National Stakeholders Working Group; the Ministers of Finance and Budget and Economic Planning; the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited; NEITI’s Inter-Ministerial Task Team; members of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts and other relevant committees of the National Assembly, as well as the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
The consultations are expected to give the assessors an opportunity to hear directly from stakeholders about the country’s implementation of the EITI Standard, ongoing reforms and outstanding challenges in the extractive sector.
Commenting, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Musa Adar, described the exercise as an important opportunity for Nigeria to demonstrate its commitment to responsible management of its oil, gas and mining resources.
“Nigeria remains firmly committed to the principles of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. We regard the Validation process as an opportunity not only to assess the progress we have made, but also to highlight areas where further reforms can enhance extractive sector governance,” Sarkin Adar said.
The NEITI boss said the agency had worked with the National Stakeholders Working Group and other stakeholders to prepare for the assessment.
According to him, the preparations included the submission of Nigeria’s validation documentation and targeted engagements with stakeholders in line with the requirements of the 2023 EITI Standard.
He expressed confidence that the mission would strengthen Nigeria’s relationship with the global EITI and reinforce its commitment to transparency, accountability and prudent management of its natural resources.
Validation is the EITI’s independent quality assurance mechanism for determining how well implementing countries comply with the EITI Standard.
The process examines the extent to which countries have improved transparency and accountability in the management of extractive resources while also identifying areas requiring further reforms.
For Nigeria, the latest exercise comes against the backdrop of its previous validation, which produced a moderate score but also identified areas requiring corrective action.
Nigeria underwent its fourth EITI validation in January 2023 under the 2019 EITI Standard and obtained an overall score of 72 points.
The assessment identified a number of corrective actions that Nigeria was expected to address before its next validation.
The 2026 exercise will therefore provide an independent assessment of whether the country has made measurable progress since the last validation and whether reforms have been institutionalised across the extractive sector.
The assessment covers issues central to the management of Nigeria’s vast oil, gas and mining resources, including transparency, public oversight and accountability.
The latest validation is also taking place as Nigeria seeks to deepen reforms in its extractive industries and attract more investment into the upstream oil and gas and mining sectors.
The country has long faced concerns over revenue leakages, opaque ownership structures, crude oil theft, weak public oversight and limited transparency around the management of natural resources.
The EITI process is designed to help address some of these challenges by promoting disclosure and encouraging collaboration among government, extractive companies and civil society.
Nigeria joined the EITI as an implementing country in 2004 and subsequently enacted the NEITI Act in 2007, establishing a statutory framework for promoting transparency in the management of the country’s extractive industries.
Since then, NEITI has conducted industry audits, published reports and made recommendations aimed at improving revenue collection, reducing leakages and strengthening accountability in the oil, gas and mining sectors.
The 2026 validation therefore comes at a critical point for the country as it seeks to demonstrate that previous recommendations have translated into concrete institutional reforms rather than remaining largely on paper.
NEITI said the exercise would also allow stakeholders to present their perspectives on the reforms and challenges affecting the extractive sector.
“The 2026 EITI Validation is an opportunity to demonstrate the progress Nigeria has made in strengthening extractive sector governance, addressing previous corrective actions and institutionalising reforms that promote transparency and accountability,” the agency stated.
The outcome of the exercise will provide an external assessment of Nigeria’s implementation of the EITI Standard and could influence the direction of further reforms in the sector.
The validation mission is expected to conclude on August 14.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described his emergence as Nigeria’s President as a special favour from Almighty Allah, saying his position as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is a privilege that must be matched with dedicated service to the country.
Tinubu made the remarks while reflecting on his spiritual journey to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj (Umrah), during which he was granted access to pray inside the Holy Ka’abah in Makkah.
The President expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for granting him and members of his Nigerian delegation the rare privilege.
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Speaking after the spiritual exercise, Tinubu said his emergence as Nigeria’s leader was an extraordinary blessing, considering the millions of people in the country.
“I have faith in that, and I believe extremely well that He has done me and my country a great favour. Out of many millions of people, to be the President and Commander-in-Chief is a favour that only Almighty God can do to a human being,” he said.
The President also disclosed that he used the opportunity to pray for wisdom and resilience to continue serving Nigerians, expressing confidence that his prayers had been answered.
“Well, I asked for wisdom and resilience to continue to serve the people. I know that prayer has been granted,” Tinubu said.
Recalling his previous Umrah pilgrimage before the 2023 presidential election, he said he had asked Allah to bless the journey and promised to return to express gratitude.
Tinubu also reflected on the message in Surah Aal-Imran, Verse 26 of the Holy Qur’an, which establishes Allah as the ultimate owner of sovereignty and authority, with the power to give and take leadership.
He said the message reinforces the need for those entrusted with positions of authority to exercise power responsibly, with humility and in the interest of the people.
“There is no other God but Almighty Allah. He is the giver and the taker. He owns power and authority,” the President said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to building a prosperous Nigeria, investing in the future of young Nigerians and pursuing development in line with the aspirations of the people.
Tinubu described the opportunity to enter the Holy Ka’abah as a historic and deeply cherished spiritual experience, adding that it reflected the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
The Ogun State Police Command has received three major honours at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council’s Golden Jubilee Press Week, with Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni named a Golden Jubilee Ambassador.
The Command received the Shield of Public Safety Award, while its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, was presented with the Vanguard of Public Safety Award.
The recognition formed part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the NUJ in Ogun State, which coincides with the state’s 50th anniversary.
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According to a statement released on Monday, November 2, 2026, by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Babaseyi, the awards recognised the Command’s commitment to public safety, proactive policing and effective engagement with the media.
The Golden Jubilee Press Week, held from October 26 to November 1, 2026, was themed, “Truth, Trust and the Press: Protecting Democratic Choice and Rebuilding Public Confidence in Journalism.”
Ojajuni also participated in a panel session during the celebration, where he urged journalists to uphold truth, professional ethics and patriotism, stressing the importance of responsible journalism to national development and public confidence in public institutions.
While receiving the Shield of Public Safety Award, the police commissioner attributed the Command’s achievements, particularly the impact of Operation KOSAYE, to the strategic direction of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, under the Handshake Patrol initiative.
He explained that the operation was carried out on the directive of the IGP through collaboration between the Ogun and Lagos State Police Commands, with support from the governors of both states.
According to him, the initiative strengthened security cooperation between the two states and improved coordinated efforts to prevent and combat criminal activities.
Ojajuni was also named among 50 distinguished personalities recognised as Golden Jubilee Ambassadors.
The honour reflects his leadership and previous contributions to policing in Ogun State, where he served as Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department and Squadron Commander of the 16 Police Mobile Force, Abeokuta, before becoming commissioner.
Similarly, Babaseyi received the Vanguard of Public Safety Award in recognition of his contributions to police-public communication, media engagement and public safety advocacy.
The commissioner dedicated the honours to the Inspector-General of Police and officers of the Nigeria Police Force, acknowledging their commitment and sacrifices in protecting lives and property.
The Command also commended the NUJ Ogun State Council, led by its chairman, Comrade Wale Olanrewaju, for the recognition and its role in promoting constructive engagement between journalists and security institutions.
It reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its relationship with the media, noting that effective policing depends not only on operational deployment but also on public trust, timely information and stakeholder engagement.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has called on traditional rulers to strengthen their collaboration with the government and security agencies to tackle insecurity and protect farmers, traders and other residents across the state.
Radda made the appeal during a meeting with the District Head of Bakori, Alhaji Garba Tukur Idris, Makaman Katsina, and other traditional leaders in Bakori Local Government Area.
The engagement, which formed part of activities of the Tinubu–Dikko 2027 Campaign Council, was disclosed in a statement issued on November 1, 2026, by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed.
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The governor said traditional institutions remained essential to efforts to achieve lasting security and development, particularly because of their influence and close relationship with local communities.
“Government cannot achieve sustainable security and grassroots development without the active cooperation of traditional rulers, community elders and other local stakeholders,” Radda said.
He urged traditional leaders to work more closely with security agencies and other community stakeholders to address security threats and strengthen peace across their respective communities.
“Your role in maintaining peace and order in our communities is very important. We need your cooperation to address security challenges and advance development at the grassroots,” he added.
Radda also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property, strengthening security operations and ensuring farmers could access their farmlands while traders conducted their businesses without fear.
He called for a coordinated approach involving traditional rulers, security agencies, political leaders, youths and women, stressing the importance of collective action in tackling insecurity and creating economic opportunities.
In his response, the District Head of Bakori, Garba Tukur Idris, welcomed the governor and his delegation, commending the engagement and the relationship between the government and traditional institutions.
Idris identified agriculture, trading and commerce as the major economic activities in Bakori, while highlighting the area’s skilled and unskilled labour force, dams and boreholes as resources that could support increased agricultural productivity and attract investment.
He also commended the cooperation among traditional institutions, local government authorities, security agencies and residents in maintaining peace, urging stakeholders to sustain the collaboration to protect their communities.
The Chairman of Bakori Local Government Area, Musa Abubakar Barde, said the delegation was also in the area to seek the blessings and support of traditional rulers and community stakeholders for the Tinubu–Dikko 2027 campaign.
The delegation included Deputy Governor Faruk Lawal; Campaign Director-General, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa; Campaign Council Co-Chairman, Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa; Deputy Director-General, Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; and Secretary-General, Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji, among others.
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