The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) have renewed their commitment to deepen collaboration in promoting transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive industries.
NEITI’s Executive Secretary and management team paid a courtesy visit to CISLAC headquarters in Abuja on Monday, where they were received by CISLAC’s Executive Director and Head of Transparency International Nigeria.
Welcoming the delegation, the CISLAC chief recalled the organization’s role in advocating for the establishment of EITI in Nigeria, which led to the enactment of the NEITI Act in 2007. He described NEITI as “not just another agency” but a key driver of prudent resource governance and sustainable development.
He noted that both institutions have long partnered on policy dialogues, community engagements, audit advocacy, and beneficial ownership transparency, stressing that NEITI’s audits have saved the country billions and informed critical reforms.
With oil revenues declining and governance risks emerging in the solid minerals sector, the meeting underscored the urgency of translating NEITI reports into tangible action, especially at the community level.
CISLAC identified priority areas for partnership, including tracking audit implementation, legislative advocacy, and capacity building for journalists, lawmakers, and CSOs to better interpret and use extractive data.
“The true wealth of a nation lies not in its natural resources, but in how those resources are managed and shared,” the CISLAC Executive Director said, urging renewed commitment to accountability and citizen engagement.
The NEITI boss commended CISLAC and civil society for their support, noting that collaboration remains central to ensuring Nigeria’s resource wealth delivers real development.
