FG Recovered $3bn Through NEITI Reports
Nigeria’s extractive sector transparency drive received significant attention on Thursday as the outgoing Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji, formally handed over leadership to his successor, Musa Sarkin Adar.
During the ceremony, Orji disclosed that the Federal Government recovered over $3bn through NEITI reports, while uncovering an additional $6bn in outstanding revenues and liabilities owed to the nation.
The handover event, held at the NEITI House in Abuja, brought together senior government officials, industry experts and civil society actors who reviewed the agency’s achievements during Orji’s five-year tenure.
According to him, the fiscal gains were achieved through evidence-driven investigations, expanded disclosures, strengthened institutional governance and reforms that spanned two administrations.
Orji, who assumed office in February 2021, said he met the organisation at what he described as “a convergence of operational and institutional crises.”
At that time, NEITI had no functioning board, stakeholder coordination was weak, infrastructure was deteriorating, and staff motivation had ebbed to its lowest point.
However, he noted that the turbulent start helped focus the agency’s priorities on rebuilding internal systems while expanding its accountability footprint in the extractive sector.
Reflecting on the journey, Orji said NEITI under his leadership adopted more rigorous reporting standards, strengthened compliance enforcement and deepened partnerships with anti-corruption agencies.
According to him, these reforms collectively contributed to the over $3bn recovered through NEITI reports, marking one of the most significant fiscal impacts achieved by the watchdog since its establishment.
“We strengthened NEITI’s administrative structure by expanding directorates from five to eight. This increased efficiency, enhanced technical capacity, and aligned the Secretariat with evolving global reporting standards,” he said.
“Through our disclosures, we delivered a concrete fiscal impact. Evidence-based audits enabled the recovery of billions of dollars for the Federal Government and identified more than $6bn in outstanding revenues and liabilities.”
He attributed these achievements to collaborative engagements with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and other oversight bodies that acted on NEITI’s findings.
Transformational reforms and infrastructure milestones
One of the most symbolic accomplishments recorded under Orji was the acquisition of NEITI’s first permanent headquarters, now valued at over N4bn.
For more than a decade, the agency operated from various rented spaces, which he described as “a logistical and financial burden.”
With the new complex, he said NEITI now has a suitable national base to coordinate future reforms in line with global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) expectations.
Other improvements include the expansion of its operational directorates, procurement of new vehicles to increase field mobility, acquisition of ICT tools, and deployment of digital reporting systems.
Orji said the upgrades enabled NEITI to deliver faster, more accurate audits and improved engagements with industry stakeholders across the country.
He also highlighted the recruitment of young professionals into the agency, stressing that NEITI needed fresh talent to match global practices and manage the complexities of oil, gas and solid minerals governance.
Transition priorities and call for legislative reforms
Setting the agenda for his successor, Orji identified several urgent priorities, including the deployment of the NEITI Data Centre, deepening oversight under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), and strengthening regulatory vigilance in the solid minerals sector.
He also emphasised the need for early preparations towards Nigeria’s 2026 EITI Validation.
Other recommendations included sustained remediation work with EFCC, ICPC, NFIU and TETFund; better communication strategies; and an expanded national outreach programme that deepens public understanding of extractive governance.
Orji reiterated his call for the amendment of the NEITI Act 2007 to bring it in alignment with the PIA and the revised EITI 2023 Standard.
He noted that predictable funding and sharper enforcement powers would improve NEITI’s impact and shield it from institutional vulnerabilities.
“Although we achieved most of the priorities set at the beginning of my tenure, the full amendment of the NEITI Act remains outstanding.
However, extensive groundwork has been completed for this reform, and I urge the government to conclude it,” he stated.
Leadership reflections and transition
Delivering an emotional farewell, Orji urged staff to remain loyal to institutional leadership, avoid internal conflicts and uphold professionalism.
Drawing from his four-decade career in public service, he said leadership is transient but character remains the legacy that endures.
He expressed gratitude to former President Muhammadu Buhari who appointed him in 2021, and to President Bola Tinubu who retained him, describing the opportunity as “one of the greatest honours” of his career.
He also acknowledged former ministers and former NEITI Executive Secretaries, including Mrs. Zainab Ahmed and Mr. Waziri Adio, for their guidance and mentorship.
On his part, the newly appointed Executive Secretary, Musa Sarkin Adar, pledged to advance NEITI’s mandate with integrity and inclusiveness.
He assured staff that his leadership would prioritise merit, fairness and transparency while accelerating the reforms already in motion.
According to him, NEITI’s role in Nigeria’s extractive sector has never been more critical, especially as states and federal institutions intensify efforts to plug leakages, expand domestic revenue and strengthen energy governance.
Stakeholder commendations
Earlier in the event, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the NEITI National Stakeholders Working Group, Senator George Akume, commended Orji for what he described as transformative leadership.
Represented by the Director of Legal Services, Kamilatu Kida, Akume noted that NEITI’s improved global reputation and reform-driven visibility were direct outcomes of Orji’s efforts.
Industry experts present also emphasised that sustaining the momentum of transparency and accountability would be critical as Nigeria navigates energy transition, solid minerals development and PIA implementation.
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