By Nkechi Eze
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) have resolved to strengthen their collaboration in a renewed push to improve transparency, accountability and overall performance in Nigeria’s extractive industries.
This commitment was reached on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, when the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Honourable Musa Sarkin Adar, led his management team on a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, at the Commission’s corporate headquarters in Jabi, Abuja. The development was disclosed in an official statement issued by the EFCC’s spokesperson, Mr. Dele Oyewale.
Speaking during the engagement, Mr. Olukoyede described the extractive industry as the mainstay of the Nigerian economy and urged the NEITI Executive Secretary to view his appointment as a critical opportunity to strengthen transparency and accountability in a sector that continues to sustain the nation’s economy. He emphasized that effective oversight of the industry is central to Nigeria’s economic stability and growth.
The EFCC Chairman recalled that both agencies have worked together over the years, noting that the collaboration has been further deepened since his assumption of office. He described NEITI’s audit reports as vital working tools for the Commission, stressing that they have served as raw materials that aided investigations and facilitated recoveries.
“Your reports are like raw materials for us to work with. With your reports over the years, we have been working and making recoveries. I can also promise you that in your own time, we will collaborate with you, probably more than we did with your predecessor. We want to continue and strengthen our collaboration and take it to another level,” Olukoyede said.
He further disclosed that the renewed partnership could lead to a review and strengthening of the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the EFCC and NEITI, to ensure greater effectiveness in achieving shared objectives. While acknowledging the limitations of NEITI’s statutory powers, he assured the agency of EFCC’s support in enforcing accountability where necessary.
“We have an MoU with your organization. We are going to review it and see what we need to improve on. Your Act may not have given you teeth, but mouth and hand to work, but we will lend you our teeth to bite from time to time,” the EFCC Chairman stated.
In his response, Honourable Musa Sarkin Adar, who was appointed in November 2025, said the visit was part of his deliberate strategy to engage critical stakeholders whose mandates align closely with NEITI’s responsibility to promote transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive sector. He explained that strengthening collaboration with the EFCC was a priority under his leadership.
He noted that he had been extensively briefed on the longstanding partnership between both agencies and commended the efforts of their leadership and staff in advancing transparency and accountability over the years. According to him, the visit provided an opportunity to explore additional ways of deepening the existing relationship.
The NEITI Executive Secretary further stressed that the meeting served to reaffirm the strong institutional ties between both agencies under the current Memorandum of Understanding and to renew their shared commitment to addressing systemic weaknesses that undermine effective governance of the extractive industry. He added that the strengthened collaboration is particularly significant as Nigeria prepares to host the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) body.
Both parties expressed optimism that the renewed partnership would enhance oversight, improve compliance and contribute to better governance outcomes in Nigeria’s extractive sector.
