The International Board of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) has
declared Nigeria as an EITI Compliant Country. The decision was announced in Paris,
France at the 5
decision is an endorsement by EITI of Nigeria’s management of Extractive Industries
Revenue.
In arriving at this decision, the EITI congratulated the Government of Nigeria for its
commitment to the EITI process and the Board and management of NEITI for meeting
all the conditions identified by the Board last October at its meeting in Tanzania.
The EITI International Board expressed satisfaction with the commitment of Nigerian
Government to embrace openness and transparency in the management of oil, gas
and solid mineral revenues through its support to the work of NEITI and its audit
processes. The World body particularly noted Nigerian’s commitment to extend its
EITI implementation to include revenue flows from Nigeria’s interest in the Joint
Development Zone (JDZ) of Sao Tome and Principe and the Solid Minerals Sector. The
EITI advised Nigeria to ensure that implementation of ongoing actions in the JDZ and
the Solid Mineral Sectors are effected by next year.
The EITI International Board also welcomed the revitalization of Inter-Ministerial Task
Team to address remediation issues identified by NEITI audit reports and other far
reaching measures taken by Nigeria through NEITI to enthrone transparency and
accountability in the Extractive Sector. The EITI International Board expressed
satisfaction with the content of the recent audit report by NEITI which covers the
period 2006-2008 and called for the implementation of the recommendations
contained in that report.
Reacting to the development, NEITI’s Executive Secretary, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed
described Nigeria’s endorsement as EITI Compliant Country as a landmark
achievement. She said the challenge now is to ensure that these high standards are
maintained and sustained in NEITI’s interface with the oil, gas and solid mineral
sectors, in the discharge of its mandate under the NEITI Act of 2007.
th global conference of the EITI holding at the French Capital. This1, Zambezi Crescent
Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street
Maitama, Abuja
T
: +234 9 2910362F
: +234 9 3146193E
: info@neiti.org.ngThe NEITI Chairman, Prof. Asobie and other delegates to the conference noted that
the development is an invitation to investors to explore the opportunities in Nigeria’s
extractive sector.
It could be recalled that Nigeria was adjudged close to compliant at the October, 2010
meeting of the EITI Board held in Tanzania. At that meeting, Nigeria was given six (6)
conditions to meet before it could become an EITI Compliant Nation. The conditions
include publication of 2006-2008 NEITI audit report, publication of a Board Charter to
streamline the Board of NEITI and the Secretariat, among others. The Board of NEITI
and the NEITI Secretariat had set up a special task force for this purpose and ensured
that Nigeria met all the conditions identified by the global body by February 1, 2011.
Nigeria’s delegation to the 5
the Chairman of NEITI/NSWG, Prof. Assissi Asobie, and the Executive Secretary, Mrs.
Zainab Ahmed. Other members of the delegation are the Chairman Nigerian Economic
Summit Group, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, the President of Trade Union Congress,
Comrade Peter Esele, former Presidential Adviser on Petroleum Matters, Alh. Ja’afaru
Paki, representatives of the NNPC, NEITI’s Director of Communications, Orji
Ogbonnaya Orji ,as well as representatives of Civil Society Organizations (CISLAC,
PWYP and CATEIFFIN).
At the Conference, five other countries were also adjudged as compliant. They are
Norway, Niger, Kyrgyzstan, Yemen and Central African Republic. This brings to eleven
(11) the number of complaint countries. To date, thirty three (33) countries have
embraced the EITI globally as implementing countries. The 5
with the theme ‘‘
neiti.org.ng/files-pdf/News-NEITIFinallyBecomesEITICompliant-010311.pdf
Hopr this will bringthinh into the light
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