The outgoing Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji, has formally handed over leadership to Musa Sarkin Adar.
At Thursday’s handover in Abuja, Orji stated his five-year tenure recovered over $3 billion for the government and identified more than $6 billion in outstanding revenues.
At the handover in Abuja, Orji credited these achievements to evidence-based disclosures, strengthened governance, and reforms advanced under two successive administrations.
“We strengthened NEITI’s administrative structure by expanding directorates from five to eight, improving efficiency, deepening technical capacity, and aligning the Secretariat with evolving global standards. Operational capability improved significantly with the acquisition of new vehicles, ICT tools, digital reporting infrastructure, and communication systems, enhancing mobility, productivity, and national presence.
“Through our public disclosures, we delivered a concrete fiscal impact. Through evidence-based reporting, over $3bn was recovered for the Federal Government, and more than $6bn in outstanding revenues and liabilities was identified. These achievements strengthened domestic resource mobilisation and fiscal transparency,” he said.
Upon taking office in February 2021, a period he described as a “convergence of operational and institutional crises,” Orji inherited a vacant board, fractured stakeholder relations, and low staff morale.
Within his first 24 hours, he committed to a five-point agenda: securing a permanent headquarters, reconstituting the board, expanding NEITI’s reporting, recruiting new talent, and amending the NEITI Act.
“Today, I leave the office grateful that we delivered all these priorities, exceeding many, except for the full amendment of the NEITI Act. However, extensive groundwork has been completed for that reform,” he added.
He highlighted the acquisition of NEITI’s first permanent headquarters—now valued at over ₦4 billion—as a key symbolic achievement.
He also pointed to major administrative upgrades, including expanding the directorates from five to eight, procuring new vehicles and digital tools, and improving the reporting infrastructure.
Orji highlighted several priorities for the new Executive Secretary, among them are “Deployment of the NEITI Data Centre, deepening implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, stronger oversight of the solid minerals sector, early preparation for Nigeria’s 2026 EITI Validation, sustained remediation work with the EFCC, ICPC, NFIU, and TETFund, and strengthened communication and national outreach.”
He further urged the Federal Government to amend the NEITI Act 2007 to align with the Petroleum Industry Act and the updated EITI 2023 Standard, while also stressing the need for predictable agency funding.
In his parting advice, drawn from four decades of public service, he urged staff to maintain loyalty to leadership and avoid vindictive behaviour.
