Global EITI Mission Arrives in Nigeria to Evaluate Oil, Gas, and Mining Sector Reforms

A validation team from the Global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative has arrived in Nigeria to assess the country’s progress in improving transparency and accountability across its oil, gas, and mining sectors.

The five-day evaluation mission, running from August 10 to August 14, forms part of the global 2026 EITI Validation Exercise. The review offers Nigeria an opportunity to demonstrate the implementation of corrective actions recommended during its previous assessment and to showcase improvements in the governance of its natural resources.

According to a statement from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the global assessors will conduct quality assurance evaluations and hold consultations with key industry stakeholders. Scheduled meetings include discussions with senior government officials, leadership from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, civil society organizations, anti-corruption agencies, and representatives from host communities.

Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Executive Secretary Musa Adar described the exercise as a vital opportunity to highlight Nigeria’s commitment to responsible resource management. He noted that the agency has worked alongside national stakeholder groups to prepare necessary documentation and conduct targeted engagements aligned with current global standards.

Validation serves as the international body’s independent quality assurance process to evaluate how effectively member countries implement transparency standards. Nigeria’s previous validation in January 2023 yielded an overall score of 72 points, highlighting specific areas needing reform to address revenue leakages, crude oil theft, and opaque ownership structures.

The findings from this assessment will provide an updated external measurement of Nigeria’s regulatory framework and help shape future policy reforms in its extractive industries.