Nigeria’s efforts to improve transparency and accountability in its oil, gas and mining industries will come under international review as assessors from the Global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) arrive in the country.
The validation mission is scheduled to run from August 10 to August 14, 2026, as part of the country’s ongoing EITI validation exercise, which began on July 1.
The exercise will allow the international team to assess how much progress Nigeria has made in implementing reforms and addressing weaknesses identified during its previous assessment.
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) said the arrival of the assessors represents an important stage in the country’s 2026 validation process.
During their stay, the assessors will carry out a detailed review of Nigeria’s implementation of the EITI Standard. They will also hold discussions with government agencies, lawmakers, businesses, civil society groups, development partners, anti-corruption organisations, host communities and members of the media.
The team is also expected to meet senior government officials and institutions responsible for managing Nigeria’s natural resources.
Those expected to participate include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the NEITI Board, Senator George Akume, members of the NEITI National Stakeholders Working Group, the Ministers of Finance and Budget and Economic Planning, and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
Members of relevant National Assembly committees, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and NEITI’s Inter-Ministerial Task Team are also expected to engage with the assessors.
According to NEITI Executive Secretary Musa Adar, Nigeria views the validation as an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to better management of its natural resources.
He said the country was prepared to show the progress achieved while also identifying areas where additional reforms are needed.
NEITI said it had worked with relevant stakeholders to prepare for the assessment. The preparations included submitting Nigeria’s validation documents and holding engagements with stakeholders based on the requirements of the 2023 EITI Standard.
The validation is important because it serves as an independent assessment of how effectively countries are implementing international standards on transparency and accountability in the extractive industries.
Nigeria’s previous validation took place in January 2023 under the 2019 EITI Standard. The country recorded an overall score of 72 points, but the assessment also highlighted several areas that required corrective action.
The latest review will therefore determine whether Nigeria has made measurable improvements since then and whether the reforms introduced have become part of the country’s institutions and systems.
The assessment comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking to attract more investment into its oil, gas and mining sectors. Challenges such as crude oil theft, revenue leakages, weak oversight and concerns over ownership structures have continued to affect confidence in the extractive industries.
Nigeria became an EITI implementing country in 2004 and later established NEITI through legislation in 2007. Since then, the agency has carried out audits and published reports aimed at improving revenue collection and accountability.
The outcome of the 2026 validation could provide important guidance for future reforms and help Nigeria strengthen investor confidence in its natural resource sector.
