By Etuka Sunday
The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji has appealed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Godfrey Onyeama to take necessary measures to link EITI implementation on natural resource governance to Nigeria’s foreign policy.
Head, Communications and Advocacy, NEITI, Obiageli Onuorah in a statement quoted the Executive Secretary, to have made the appeal when he visited the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama on a courtesy visit in Abuja.
According to Dr. Orji, “We are a member of the global EITI operating in 55 Member Countries. We are aware that Nigeria has missions and embassies in most of these member countries. It is important that we work closely with the Ministry of foreign Affairs to ensure that our Ambassadors and High Commissions around the world are fully informed and briefed about NEITI’s leading role at the global EITI and on natural resource governance”.
Dr. Orji said that “At the moment, NEITI is concerned that huge information gaps exist between its leading role in natural resource governance under the EITI framework and Nigerian foreign missions. “Nigeria is chair of the global network on contract transparency comprising of twenty countries among them Mexico, Philippines and Ghana. We were selected as one of the pilot countries on beneficial ownership, contract transparency, open data as well as on energy transition and open extractives”, he explained.
The honour to Nigeria to lead on these global reform initiatives as a result of the work NEITI is doing which should be marketed at our diplomatic missions around the world to enhance Nigeria’s global ratings has implications on foreign direct investments into the country.
Dr. Orji pointed out that these issues are currently shaping diplomatic engagements among countries globally and working together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to sensitise our diplomatic missions, will support Nigeria to uphold and maintain its leading roles on these issues.
The Executive Secretary reminded the Minister of President Buhari’s commitments at the London anti-corruption summit. These commitments he observed, also have diplomatic dimensions to EITI global implementation.
“We therefore request for a special desk at the ministry of foreign affairs for closer briefings and engagements on these issues. We expect our foreign missions to be abreast of EITI so they can provide the needed support at the international level and brief the ministry appropriately on developments”, Dr. Orji stated.
According to the transparency boss, “NEITI will also want to contribute more to government’s engagements on these issues given our depth of knowledge of the sector and NEITI’s global reputation on availability of information and data.
He commended the Minister on “The excellent foreign initiatives being driven and relations maintained by the ministry on behalf of our country around the world” adding that NEITI is prepared to “work with the ministry to ensure that the gaps where they exist are closed.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama welcomed the new partnership stating that NEITI’s visit is timely. “We see you as a very important partner in show-casing Nigeria’s global leadership on natural resource governance”.
The Minister noted that “Mr. President, as the African Union Anti- Corruption Champion has pushed for African governments to be aware of the dangers of illicit financial flows and its drain on Africa’s resources.
NEITI therefore has very important mandates and roles to play in building the environment and the framework for transparency in beneficial ownerships of natural resources and also in the collection of revenue and taxes from the sector”.
He stated that “NEITI and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will support each other. Nigeria has been involved and has invested a lot in the global efforts to monitor and prevent illicit financial flows. If we can capture much of these resources, it will accelerate the development of Nigeria and Africa.
Mr Onyeama gave assurances that the information gap between NEITI-EITI implementation in Nigeria and his ministry would be adequately addressed.
The Foreign Affairs Minister and the NEITI Executive Secretary both expressed hope and confidence on the new relationship and partnership. “We are encouraged that this partnership will lead to greater synergy, collaboration and cooperation in the exchange of information and data to ensure that at all times Nigeria speaks to what we have done which is globally recognized within the global EITI”.
