ICPC, NEITI Strengthen Partnership to Boost Transparency in Extractive Sector

ICPC, NEITI Strengthen Partnership to Boost Transparency in Extractive Sector

FELICIA OLADELE, Abuja

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) have intensified collaboration aimed at promoting greater transparency, accountability and integrity in Nigeria’s extractive sector.

Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to the partnership while receiving the Executive Secretary and senior management team of NEITI during a courtesy visit to the ICPC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

Welcoming the delegation, Dr. Aliyu described the relationship between the two institutions as one built on mutual respect and strategic necessity, noting that the visit further reinforced their shared resolve to ensure Nigeria’s natural resources are managed in line with the highest standards of integrity and accountability.

He said the Commission considers NEITI a critical ally in the fight against systemic corruption, particularly within the oil, gas and mining sectors, stressing that NEITI’s audit reports provide a vital, data-driven foundation for identifying revenue leakages and informing effective preventive and enforcement actions.

According to the ICPC Chairman, one of the major outcomes of the collaboration is the establishment of the Special Extractive Industry Desk within the Commission, which was created to act directly on findings from NEITI’s audits. He explained that the desk reflects a shift from merely reporting infractions to ensuring concrete remedial action.

By integrating NEITI’s forensic data with the ICPC’s investigative and prosecutorial mandate, Dr. Aliyu said both institutions are translating audit findings into tangible results that strengthen governance and reduce corruption risks in the extractive industries.

He outlined areas identified for expanded cooperation, including real-time exchange of data on illicit financial flows, joint system study and review exercises within the solid minerals sector to prevent revenue losses, and joint training programmes for investigators and auditors from both organisations.

Dr. Aliyu emphasised that Nigerians expect the country’s natural wealth to translate into meaningful national development, adding that the ICPC-NEITI partnership remains one of the most effective instruments for meeting this expectation.

He assured NEITI’s leadership of the Commission’s continued openness to collaboration and expressed optimism that the partnership would yield even more impactful outcomes.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar, said the organisation has long recognised that transparency alone is insufficient without strong preventive mechanisms and institutional accountability, especially in sectors with high corruption risks.

He described the visit as timely, noting that it coincides with Nigeria’s preparations for the 2026 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Validation exercise, which requires clear evidence of anti-corruption measures, preventive actions and follow-up on governance weaknesses identified through audits and disclosures.

Hon. Sarkin Adar said NEITI is seeking the ICPC’s sustained collaboration in using its reports for preventive interventions, enforcement where necessary, and monitoring remedial actions arising from audit findings, stressing that such cooperation is critical to demonstrating Nigeria’s commitment to accountability under the global EITI Standard.

He added that NEITI’s audits and policy recommendations have consistently revealed systemic gaps, control weaknesses and corruption risks across the extractive value chain, explaining that these findings are intended to support investigations, institutional reforms and preventive actions within the ICPC’s mandate.

The NEITI Executive Secretary expressed confidence that strengthening collaboration between the two institutions would significantly contribute to reducing corruption risks, improving governance in the extractive sector and safeguarding Nigeria’s natural resources for sustainable national development.