‘Stronger media partnership critical to management of extractive sector’

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has said the only stronger and deeper partnership with the media can ensure prudent management of revenue from the extractive sector, especially the oil and gas and mining sector.

The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, who disclosed this while visiting a number of media houses said transparency in the extractive sector may remain elusive without the media.

Orji said NEITI exists to galvanise change in Nigeria’s natural resource management by making the findings and recommendations contained in its reports to the public, enlighten the people, and ultimately uplift their standard of living.

Speaking on the quality workforce in the media, Orji said: “Sometimes, out of curiosity, I call some of them to ask where they were trained, because I never knew them while I was in the industry. Look at the kind of capacity and professionalism they have brought to bear in their work. I am truly impressed.”

He appealed to the media executives to expand and equip their energy desks to enable them to analyse sensitive and technical information associated with extractive operations.