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Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji,the new Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji has expressed regrets over the complaints by oil companies that out of over $75 billion investments that came into sub Saharan Africa in the last few years, only $3 billion came to Nigeria.
He, however,said that his tenure will offer a new approach to ensure that fresh investments are attracted to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
He added: “It is time for us to re-unite with mutual respect to address poor investments in the industry and I see my appointment as NEITI Executive Secretary as the instrument of that unification”.
Orji,who spoke during consultative meetings with leading Civil Society Organizations and a forum of oil, gas and mining companies in the extractive sector in Nigeria,advocated the need for closer collaboration and partnership with the civil society, oil, gas and mining companies towards the implementation of ongoing reforms in the extractive industry in Nigeria.
He assured the companies that under his leadership, NEITI will be a pillar of trust, partnership and collaboration.
He said that NEITI will work with the companies and relevant government agencies to address the growing concerns over multiple and proliferation of levies and taxation.
According to him, the new approach by NEITI is to work with the government, companies and civil society to rebuild trust urgently required to promote inflow of foreign direct investments into the oil, gas and mining sectors through the NEITI/EITI process.
Dr Orji disclosed that NEITI will evaluate the roles of its strategic partners, device new approaches to achieve results, create opportunities and extend the frontiers of transparency and accountability by responding adequately and swiftly to the emerging issues in the EITI.
He expressed the hope that working together with companies to improve the business climate will help strengthen revenue contribution of the extractive industries to support ongoing efforts at rebuilding the nation’s social infrastructure, create jobs and positive change in the living standards of our citizens.
In his remarks,the Chair of the Companies Forum, Mr. Bunmi Toyobo, urged NEITI to within the boundaries allowed by its mandate, support the growth and investment drive in the industry, lamenting over the huge burden and expectations on the extractive sector in Nigeria even in the face of dwindling production capacities and lack of competitiveness of the Nigerian extractive investment corridor as well as the uncertainty surrounding the future of fossil fuels.
Speaking, Ms Faith Nwadishi, a former member of the EITI Board, National Stakeholders Working Group of NEITI, and chair of the civil society steering committee, commended the appointment of Dr Orji.
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