The appointment of Nigeria to the chair of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) global network, through Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, Executive secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), has been described as a welcome development and laudable.

While expressing delight over the appointment, Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), on Monday in Abuja, said the choice of Orji to chair the global initiative is a right step towards sustaining transparency in the extractive sector in Nigeria.

“This is also to show the confidence that the global community has in the ability of Dr Orji and Nigeria to lead towards achieving a global transparent extractive contract process,” CTA stated.

Speaking on the development, Faith Nwadishi, Executive Director, CTA, said the Centre has been playing significant roles by galvanizing other CSOs with similar visions to form a consortium of civil society advocates towards the formation of a network known as Contract Transparency Network (CONTRANET).

She said: “It is therefore important to acknowledge that NEITI has impacted positively by enshrining contract disclosure in its engagement with entities in Nigeria.”

CTA, a leading voice in the contract transparency advocacy space said it believes NEITI will cease the moment to link up with the global community to sustain open contract and transparent contract processes in the extractive sector in Nigeria.

The EITI global network on contract transparency is tasked with the specific responsibility of developing a global framework, standard and tools of engagement on contract disclosures in the extractive industries to guide the 54 member countries of EITI.

CTA challenges NEITI to rally all the covered entities to comply with the EITI standards and be in tune with NEITI and its operations anchored on best global practices.

CTA also, commends the roles played by Dr Michael Uzoigwe, Country Manager of EITI for Anglophone countries, in establishing CONTRANET.

The appointment was announced by Uzoigwe, at the closing ceremony of a week-long retreat for management and staff of NEITI held in Abuja.

Uzoigwe described Nigeria as the most elaborate EITI implementing country among 55 member countries through the work of NEITI.

The global network is made of 20 EITI implementing countries including Nigeria.

The countries are Indonesia, Philippines, Mexico, Armenia, Cameroun, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Malawi and Guinea.

Others include Guyana, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Senegal, Sao Tome e’ Principe, Togo, Zambia and Tanzania.

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