EFCC, NEITI Deepen Partnership Against Extractive Sector Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) have agreed to strengthen their collaboration to improve transparency, accountability and performance in Nigeria’s extractive industries.
The resolution was reached on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, when NEITI’s Executive Secretary, Honourable Musa Sarkin Adar, led his management team on a courtesy visit to the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, at the Commission’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
Welcoming the delegation, Olukoyede described the extractive sector as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and urged Adar to see his appointment as an opportunity to reinforce transparency and accountability in the industry. He noted that EFCC’s long-standing collaboration with NEITI had yielded tangible results, especially through the use of NEITI’s reports in investigations and recoveries.
“Our relationship with NEITI has existed over the years, but since my appointment, we have taken it to another level. Your reports are raw materials for our work, and they have helped us make significant recoveries. I assure you that under your leadership, our collaboration will be even stronger,” Olukoyede said.
He added that the enhanced partnership may lead to a review of the existing Memorandum of Understanding between both agencies to make it more effective. “We have an MoU, and we will look at what needs improvement. While your Act may limit enforcement powers, we will lend you our teeth when necessary,” he stated.
In his response, Adar said the visit aligned with his priority of engaging critical stakeholders whose mandates intersect with NEITI’s role in promoting transparency and accountability in the extractive sector. Appointed in November 2025, he emphasized his commitment to strengthening the existing partnership with EFCC.
“I have been fully briefed on the strategic collaboration between our agencies and the commendable work done over the years. This engagement is to explore ways of further strengthening that partnership,” Adar said.
He noted that the meeting also served to reaffirm the strong institutional relationship between NEITI and EFCC under the existing MoU and to renew their shared commitment to addressing systemic weaknesses in the governance of the extractive sector, especially as Nigeria prepares to host the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
