The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) says Nigeria is fully prepared for the 2026 global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Validation, with civil society organisations expressing confidence in the country’s progress on transparency and accountability reforms in the extractive sector.
The global validation exercise, which begins on July 1, 2026, is an independent assessment of how implementing countries comply with the EITI Standard on transparency and good governance in the management of natural resources.
Speaking at a consultative forum in Abuja, the Executive Secretary, Musa Sarkin Adar, said Nigeria has systematically addressed the corrective actions identified during its last validation and is ready to demonstrate its progress to the global EITI community.
According to him, the National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) has strengthened compliance in key areas, including stakeholder engagement, contract disclosure, resource-backed loans, sub-national revenue transfers and the transparency of state-owned enterprises.
‘Nigeria has taken deliberate steps to close the 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 has also engaged government, civil society and extractive companies on the new validation model, reporting templates and corrective actions required under the 2023 EITI Standard.
Describing the exercise as more than a compliance assessment, Adar said the validation provides an opportunity for Nigeria to demonstrate its commitment to transparency, accountability and good governance in the management of its extractive resources.
‘Validation is proof of Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability and good governance. It is also an opportunity to showcase the reforms and continuous improvements we have made in extractive sector governance,’ he said.
The Executive Secretary added that NEITI is working closely with government agencies, extractive companies, civil society organisations and development partners to ensure that all required disclosures and supporting documents are completed before the assessment begins.
He urged civil society organisations and the media to actively participate in the process by tracking audit recommendations, reviewing validation templates and contributing evidence that reflects Nigeria’s progress.
Chair of the Communications and Civil Society Steering Committee and civil society representative on the NEITI Board, Erisa Danladi, said the meeting was convened to validate stakeholders’ inputs into the EITI reporting templates.
Director of Communications and Stakeholders Management, Obiageli Onuorah, said Nigeria had strengthened its compliance record by addressing previous corrective actions, highlighting the recent Memorandum of Understanding signed between NEITI and the National Human Rights Commission to safeguard civic space.
She described the agreement as an innovative initiative that has received recognition from the global EITI body.
Also speaking, Faith Nwadishi of the Centre for Transparency urged civil society organisations to use the validation templates not merely as reporting tools but as instruments for strengthening implementation and accountability.
‘These documents must be used to hold covered entities accountable,’ she said.
Other stakeholders, including NEITI Board representative for the South-South, Steven Akpan, as well as Chima Williams, Emeka Ononamadu and Mustapha Mohammed, Chair of the Resource Justice Network, expressed strong support for NEITI’s preparations and Nigeria’s participation in the validation exercise.
The stakeholders described the validation as an important mechanism for strengthening public trust, improving revenue accountability and ensuring that Nigeria’s natural resources contribute more effectively to sustainable national development.