The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), has sought for technical assistance from Australia, Belgium and Canada to deepen Nigeria’s extractive industry reforms.

The reform programme is designed to deal with challenges of corruption, oil theft, illegal mining, stealing of minerals, pipeline vandalisation and associated governance challenges.

Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, Executive Secretary of the NEITI, made the call during a courtesy visit by the Belgian Ambassador and High Commissioners of Australia and Canada to NEITI House, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visiting diplomats include the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms Leilani Bin-Juda, Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt and Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Jamie Christoff.

The visit focuses on engendering partnership and exploring ways to deepen engagement.

Orji therefore called for collaboration on anti-corruption and natural resource governance, capacity bui
lding, diplomatic support and engagement, information, data and knowledge sharing.

‘As supporting member countries to the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), your visit is an opportunity to seek and domesticate technical support of your respective countries to the EITI.

‘This will connect directly with Nigerian citizens who earnestly desire that the abundant natural resources in this country works for the benefit of all, not just a few,’ he said.

According to Orji, NEITI’s legitimate interest is to save Nigeria from continuing loss of revenues and investment opportunities in the sector.

He said that NEITI’s industry reports and recommendations over the years supported local and global partnerships as well as collaboration to address the challenges.

Orji said that such partnership between NEITI and the countries would provide the opportunity and linkage given its in-depth exposure to the issues and challenges at the grassroots.

He described the visit as a huge encouragement to NE
ITI, and an endorsement of its strong international affiliation and partnership with 57 other resource-rich countries under the global EITI.

He said the fully automated NEITI Data Centre was completed, and awaiting unveiling, adding that the centre has been adjudged as the first of its kind among the 57 EITI-implementing countries.

‘It is a one-stop shop for information and data on Nigeria’s extractive sector (consisting of oil, gas and solid minerals)’.

Amb. Sunday Adoli, Member, NEITI, National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG), North Central Representative, lauded the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and partners that encouraged more cooperation to boost activities in extractive industries.

In his remarks, Leenknegt pledged more support to the global EITI and NEITI in fostering transparency, accountability and good governance.

Also, Christoff expressed satisfaction with the NEITI’s activities, lauded its data centre, and emphasised the need for data to achieve transparency, public enlightenment
and good governance between all tiers of governments.

On partnership, Christoff said the Canadian government had an existing partnership with Nigeria on anti corruption, adding that it would be sustained.

While Bin-Juda commended NEITI over the production of policy reports for information and contextual balance, thereby endorsing partnership on information and knowledge sharing.

Highlights of the visit are a facility tour of the new NIETI Data Centre and the presentation of plagues to the dignitaries by the NEITI boss.

The centre will also serve as a reservoir for all information and data published in the various NEITI Annual Industry Reports since the first edition in 2004 till date.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria