Abuja December 2nd 2021. A Joint Inter-Agency Committee on the public disclosure of the contents of oil, gas and mining contracts have been set up by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).
The contracts to be disclosed include the terms and conditions set out in the contracts for exploration and exploitation of Nigeria’s oil and gas assets under the Joint Operating Agreements, Production Sharing Contracts, Service Contracts and Sole- Risk Contracts. The disclosures would also cover contracts in the solid minerals sector amongst others.
The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, announced this in Lagos at a special training on Contract Transparency for members of the NEITI’s National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG).
Dr. Orji explained that the joint committee was carefully drawn from relevant government agencies with direct responsibilities on managing Nigeria’s interests in various funding arrangements in the sector governed by contractual obligations.
The Agencies include; the Federal Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Ltd. Other members are the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and the Mining Cadastral Office. NEITI is expected to serve as the secretariat.
The NEITI Executive Secretary added that the Joint Inter-Agency Committee on Contract Transparency is also expected to develop a National Roadmap and a Work-plan for the implementation of contract disclosure in the oil, gas and mining industries.
Dr. Orji announced that all is now set for Nigeria to assume leadership of the global Contract Transparency Network comprising of 20 member countries with effect from January 2022.
The global Contract Transparency Network to be Chaired by the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji on behalf of Nigeria is comprised of the following countries; Indonesia, Philippines, Mexico, Armenia, Cameroun, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Malawi, Guinea, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Senegal, Sao tome e’ Principe, Togo, Zambia and Tanzania. Dr. Orji will be taking over from Alexandria Walls of Mexico who has led the global body from inception in 2018. Nigeria’s tenure as the Chair of the network is for 4 years.
The Chairman of the NSWG, Mr Olusegun Adekunle, reaffirmed the commitment of the NEITI Board to provide the leadership and strategic direction required by the Agency to implement contract transparency disclosures and other EITI emerging issues.
He expressed delight that the Joint Inter- Agency Committee is already working to develop a National Roadmap and gave the assurance that it will be included in the NEITI 5year Strategic plan expected to be approved by the Board at its on-going meeting in Lagos.
Obiageli Onuorah
Deputy Director/Head Communications & Advocacy