Ex-NEITI Chief, Orji, Hands Over to Adar, Gives Account of Stewardship

•Says over $3bn recovered, more than $6bn liabilities identified

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) yesterday witnessed a formal leadership change, as erstwhile Executive Secretary, Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji, officially handed over the baton of leadership to the new NEITI head, Sarkin Adar.

At the event, Orji, who gave an account of his stewardship, described the occasion as an emotional moment in his professional journey, having served for nearly two decades—and leading the organisation for five years.

Orji stated that when he assumed office on February 19 2021, NEITI faced a convergence of operational, governance, and institutional challenges—threatened eviction from rented office, strained stakeholder relations, inadequate tools and infrastructure, low staff morale, among others.

On resumption he stated that he pledged to secure a permanent office for NEITI; reconstitute the NEITI Board; expand the scope and depth of industry reports; recruit young, skilled professionals; review staff salaries upward; modernise vehicles, ICT tools, and infrastructure; and pursue review of the NEITI Act to align with the PIA and the EITI Standard.

“Today, I leave the office with deep gratitude and a strong sense of duty fulfilled. Working together with the support of the NSWG and a dedicated workforce, we delivered all these priorities—exceeding many—except the full amendment of the NEITI Act, for which extensive groundwork has already been completed,” he added.

Orji stated that one of the earliest achievements of his administration was restoring governance and institutional stability through the successful reconstitution of the 5th NSWG in July 2021 and the 6th NSWG in May 2024. These Boards, he said, restored statutory oversight, protected Nigeria’s global EITI standing, and guided major reforms.

Besides, he stated that operational capability improved significantly with the acquisition of new vehicles, ICT tools, digital reporting infrastructure, and communication systems—enhancing mobility, productivity, and national presence.

“Our public disclosures delivered concrete fiscal impact. Through evidence-based reporting, over $3 billion was recovered for the federal government, and more than $6 billion in outstanding revenues and liabilities was identified. These achievements strengthened domestic resource mobilisation and fiscal transparency.

“We rebuilt trust across government agencies, extractive companies, civil society, and the media. Today, NEITI’s multi-stakeholder ecosystem is stronger, more engaged, and more representative,” he stressed.

Aside from maintaining full global compliance with the consistent publication of oil & gas, Solid Minerals, and FASD Reports, he explained that despite the complexities surrounding the 2023 validation cycle, Nigeria achieved 92/100 in Outcomes and Impact and 90/100 in Transparency, reaffirming NEITI’s standing as a leading global reform institution.

“A historic milestone of my tenure was the acquisition of NEITI House, the institution’s first permanent headquarters, valued at over N4 billion and saving the federal government more than N150 million annually.

“Staff welfare received unprecedented attention with the implementation of an upward salary review of over 100 per cent in January this year—boosting morale, retention, and productivity,” he added.

The ceremony, witnessed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the National Stakeholders’ Working Group (NSWG) Senator George Akume, alongside industry leaders, civil society partners, development partners, and the media, underscored NEITI’s commitment to continuity, transparency and reforms.

Akume, represented by the Director, Legal Services at the SGF’s Office Mrs. Kamilatu Mustapha Kida stated that with the transition that took place, the government has once again demonstrated its support to continue the advancement of its extractive governance agenda in line with the global EITI Standards.

“NEITI remains a beacon of integrity and good governance in our public institutions, and we are confident that this transition will further strengthen its role as a model for transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive sector”,  Akume emphasised.

Akume stated that  Orji’s leadership delivered historic milestones, including the acquisition and relocation to NEITI’s permanent office, expansion of industry reporting, strengthened public disclosures, improved inter-agency partnerships, and enhanced stakeholder confidence in the EITI process.

Also speaking, the new Executive Secretary of NEITI, Adar, while accepting the handover, pledged to sustain Nigeria’s extractive sector reforms and consolidate NEITI’s role as a model of integrity and accountability.

He thanked the federal government for the opportunity to serve, emphasising the need for sincerity, honesty, openness and objectivity by staff in order to move NEITI forward. “I am here to lead, but your competence, trustworthiness and hard work will guide my relationship with you”, he reiterated.

He added: “This transition signals renewed momentum for NEITI’s mission to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria’s extractive industries”.

Adar committed to drive the strengthening of the NEITI Act in collaboration with the National Assembly, to align with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the EITI 2023 Standard, stating that the current Act has limitations that hinder NEITI’s performance and influence in the sector.

He expressed appreciation to Orji for his years of service and leadership to the nation and NEITI in particular and pledged to build on the institutional gains achieved under the outgoing administration.