The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative have resolved to strengthen their collaboration in a renewed push to curb fraud and boost accountability in Nigeria’s extractive industries.
The resolution was reached on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, when the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Mr Musa Sarkin Adar, led his management team on a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede, at the commission’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
Speaking during the visit, Olukoyede described the extractive industry as the backbone of the Nigerian economy and charged Adar to see his appointment as an opportunity to entrench transparency and accountability in a sector that continues to sustain the country.
The EFCC chairman noted that both agencies had worked together over the years, adding that the collaboration had been taken “to the next level” since his assumption of office.
“Your reports are like raw materials for us to work with. With NEITI’s reports over the years, we have been able to work and make recoveries,” Olukoyede said.
He pledged that the EFCC would further strengthen its partnership with NEITI under Adar’s leadership, promising closer collaboration than in the past.
Olukoyede also disclosed plans to review and improve the existing Memorandum of Understanding between both agencies to enhance effectiveness.
“We have an MoU with your organisation. We are going to review it and see what we need to improve on. Your Act may not have given you teeth, but we will lend you our teeth to bite from time to time,” he added.
In his remarks, Adar, who was appointed in November 2025, said the visit was part of his strategy to engage critical stakeholders in line with NEITI’s mandate.
He explained that the EFCC remained a key partner whose statutory responsibilities aligned closely with NEITI’s mission of promoting transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive sector.
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Adar commended the longstanding partnership between both agencies and expressed his commitment to further strengthening the relationship.
He said the meeting also provided an opportunity to reaffirm the existing MoU and renew their shared resolve to address systemic weaknesses undermining effective governance of the extractive industry, particularly as Nigeria prepares to host the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
The renewed alliance is expected to boost enforcement, improve transparency and strengthen oversight in one of Nigeria’s most critical economic sectors.
