Nigeria Urge Resource Rich Nations To Adapt EITI For Economic Reform
By Stephanie Odiase
Nigeria has urged fellow resource-rich nations to transform the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) from a routine data-reporting checklist into a powerful driver of reform, accountability, and inclusive growth.
Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), made the call while addressing an international EITI Peer-Learning Session in Amman, Jordan.
The conference, organised with support from the World Bank, was designed to equip the Republic of Iraq with global lessons and practical models for implementing the EITI, as Iraq joins the EITI as an implementing country.
Dr. Orji explained that Nigeria’s EITI journey provides a living case study on how the initiative can be adapted to local contexts to confront the governance challenges of natural resource wealth.
“NEITI’s experience has shown that the EITI can deliver far more than public disclosure. It is a platform for institutional reform, citizens’ dialogue, accountability advocacy, and process re-engineering,” he stated.
Dr. Orji reaffirmed Nigeria’s pledge to deepen reforms at home while sharing tested models with the global EITI family, urging resource-rich countries — particularly those battling the ‘resource curse’ — to see transparency under the EITI not as a compliance checkbox but as a dynamic governance platform.
He emphasised that peer learning is central to the EITI process, adding that Nigeria is committed to sharing its journey with Iraq and other countries in the Middle East while also learning from their experiences to strengthen ongoing reforms in the oil, gas, and mining sectors.
Speaking on Nigeria’s unique and replicable innovations, Dr. Orji highlighted several innovations that have shaped Nigeria’s success story which could guide other resource-rich nations, including Iraq.
He listed Statutory Backing with an Act of parliament; High-impact Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) Chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Independent Secretariat with technically skilled staff, and Inter-Agency Task Team of 21 Anti-Corruption & Oversight Bodies, which he described as a pioneering Nigerian model linking EITI disclosures directly to enforcement, fiscal justice, and anti-corruption outcomes.
Dr Orji mentioned other unique and replicable innovations to include NEITI Policy Briefs which transforms complex audit findings into concise, actionable briefs used by legislators, MDAs, and development partners, NEITI Open Data & Technology Platforms; Integration with Fiscal Reforms as well as Energy Transition & Climate Accountability Framework.
“These approaches have delivered tangible results — including the recovery of significant unpaid revenues, disclosure of $6.018 billion in outstanding company liabilities, and credible data that reshaped national debates on fuel subsidy removal, debt sustainability, and the investment climate. NEITI’s work now informs Nigeria’s energy transition strategy, strengthens host community development, and drives accountability in a sector long plagued by opacity,” Dr. Orji said.
He added, “Few countries have walked this path as far as Nigeria. We built and anchored implementation on a strong legal foundation to institutionalise reforms. Peer learning offers every EITI country the chance to adapt and apply lessons that work,” according to a statement by NEITI’s Director of Communications & Stakeholder Management, Mrs. Obiageli Onuorah.
Speaking further, he said, “Natural wealth must serve citizens, not elite interests. Nigeria’s EITI experience shows that with courage, credible data, and institutional strength, resource dependence can become a force for stability and inclusive growth.”
Recall that Nigeria joined the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in 2003 and began implementation in 2004. Its distinctive adaptation of the EITI to local realities continues to draw global interest and inspire peer-learning partnerships.
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