The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has deployed its automated information-gathering infrastructure, the NEITI Audit Management System (NAMS), for the conduct of the 2022-2023 audit reports, disclosing that the report would be completed in September this year.
Executive Secretary (ES) of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, disclosed during a press conference at the NEITI House on Wednesday in Abuja.
The Nigerian Tribune reports that the NAMS automates the data-collection component of the NEITI audit process and also allows reporting entities to make submissions to NEITI in a more seamless and efficient way. Orji, while giving an update on the audit reports, stated that two indigenous independent Administrators are conducting the exercise.
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“They are Haruna Yahaya for the Solid Minerals report and Adeshile Adedeji & Co for the conduct of the oil and gas report. We have also set September 2024 as the date for the completion of the reports. We have deployed our automated information-gathering infrastructure – NAMS for the conduct of the exercise,” the ES said.
He, however, added that the agency is set to host the maiden edition of the NEITI House Dialogue, a quarterly policy engagement series that would host notable policymakers who would address policy issues and reforms in the extractive sector while revealing that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission Engr. Gbenga Komolafe would grace the maiden edition of the NEITI House Dialogue.
The NEITI boss noted that the NEITI Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) has been reconstituted after about seven years and would be inaugurated on the 13th of May 2024 with high-ranking officers no less than a director as part of the team.
The IMTT, he said, is saddled with the responsibility of implementing recommendations and findings of the NEITI’s industry reports and as well as deepening government oversight and reforms in the extractive sector.
He revealed that a draft remediation plan is being developed for implementation in line with NEITI’s mission and strategic plan, which is to institutionalize accountability mechanisms and processes to instill a culture of transparency and participation in Nigeria’s extractive sector.
“The IMTT program also aims to increase integrity and transparency within regulatory agencies and operators in the extractive industries.”
He announced that research study and publications on premium motor spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol consumption in Nigeria before and after subsidy removal and Policy Brief/Advisory on Domestic Resource Mobilization will commence next month.
He said NEITI is in talks with the management of Dangote Refinery on the need for EITI Compliance as Refinery has been invited to join EITI as a supporting company.
The NEITI boss extended his heartfelt gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the Chairman of the NEITI NSWG, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, sister agencies, the NEITI-Companies Forum, the civil society, and media for their commitment and support to the implementation of the EITI in Nigeria.
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