The Federal Government has reaffirmed its support for the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) validation exercise in Nigeria, pledging to strengthen transparency, accountability and good governance in the management of the country’s natural resources.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume gave the assurance on Monday, August 10, 2026, in Abuja while receiving a delegation of Global Validation Assessors from the EITI.
Akume, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office (GSO), Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kanasaid the Federal Government’s support for the validation process was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commitment to promoting openness, good governance and sustainable economic growth.
According to an official statement signed by the Head, Information and Public Relations, Chris Ugwuegbulam, the SGF said Nigeria remained committed to the EITI framework because of its emphasis on transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
“Nigeria is proud to be part of EITI. Our commitment stems from our belief in transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. As a signatory to the EITI charter, we are committed, on behalf of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to keep our systems open to the EITI process,” Akume stated.
He said the visit of the global assessors provided an opportunity for Nigeria to demonstrate its commitment to international standards and accountability in the extractive sector.
The SGF disclosed that the government was implementing reforms to strengthen regulatory frameworks, improve access to data and ensure that extractive activities complied with national laws and international standards.
“We are implementing reforms aimed at increasing transparency. The government is determined to address the challenges in the Nigerian extractive industry within the shortest possible time to ensure a seamless validation process and guarantee that our natural resources benefit all citizens,” he said.
Akume urged the assessors to engage extensively with stakeholders during the validation process and assured them of the Federal Government’s full cooperation.
In his response, the Leader of the EITI Global Validation Team, Mr. Riley Zecca, commended Nigeria’s proactive approach to implementing the initiative, noting the country’s importance to the EITI global secretariat due to the scale of its extractive sector and ongoing reforms.
Zecca said the team’s objective was to support the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) in meeting the requirements of the 2023 EITI Standard while making the validation process a learning and capacity-building exercise.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar, thanked the SGF for his continued support for the agency’s efforts to promote transparency and good governance in the extractive sector.
Adar reaffirmed NEITI’s commitment to international best practices and the use of technology to improve data accuracy, accessibility and stakeholder engagement.
The EITI Validation Exercise commenced on July 1, 2026.
