NEITI, ministry to enforce compliance with standard in extractive sector

Federal Ministry of Environment and Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has concluded plans to ensure compliance with environmental requirements in the extractive industries.

This was hinted at a meeting in Abuja between the Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, and the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji.

The platform requires providing easy access to available reports on environmental impact assessments, existing policies, and reports on environmental pollution as well as strategic direction on the government’s plan for the environment, which will guide NEITI’s engagement on relevant issues.

Ikeazor, who commended NEITI for the expansion of its operations to environmental issues, expressed concern that environmental issues in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) have not been prioritized.

“I commend NEITI for its initiative to expand its operations to matters on the environment at a time when environmental issues in the EITI Standard are yet to gain the desired attention. It is a win-win for Nigeria and we will support efforts in this direction.”

She invited NEITI to serve on its special inter-ministerial committee on the environment.

Orji described the emerging partnership and collaboration with the Ministry of Environment in enforcing environment compliance requirements as a welcomed development.

“The partnership with the ministry of environment has become necessary as a result of the strong linkages between the environment, environment pollution, health hazards, mining and oil, and gas explorations.

“The decision of the global EITI, which Nigeria is a member, to expand its mandate to the environment is a result of the devastating effect of environmental degradation on the host communities of oil, gas, and mining activities. The degradation also has a negative impact on health, and living standards in the affected communities,” Orji said.

According to him, NEITI is set to commission a comprehensive study on the impact of mining on the environment as well as the implication on investment and revenue generation in the extractive sector.