Speakers at the National Stakeholders’ Retreat and Board Meeting of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), held on Wednesday in Umuahia, Abia State have called for energy transition focus in extractive sector to ensure a low-carbon future for the country.
Governor Alex Otti equally called on stakeholders in Nigeria’s extractive industry to prioritise energy transition in the exploration and utilisation of the country’s mineral resources. The governor stressed the need to align the nation’s resource governance with emerging global energy dynamics.
According to a statement by his spokesperson, Ukoha Njoku, Otti urged NEITI to embrace systems that reflect a pro-Nigeria orientation in both reporting and industrial accountability.
“NEITI would do well to pay close attention to the evolution of this new ecosystem with respect to the business of exploration of mineral resources.
It should set up systems that are pro-Nigeria in terms of reporting and industrial accountability to avoid a repeat of the costly mistakes of the past,” he said.
He emphasised that recognising the shift from traditional to new energy forms would help create better frameworks for transparent and sustainable operations.
“Whatever happens, the best path for us will be to embrace the new opportunities that are bound to come with the transition to low and non-carbon energy sources,” Otti added.
Highlighting local efforts in energy innovation, the governor said thousands of solar-powered streetlights had been installed to improve safety and reduce power costs.
“The initiative has brought about massive savings in energy costs, improved service delivery, and given the state a sense of how to evolve a more holistic energy policy,” he said.
He revealed that a specialised energy firm, APTAN Energy Limited, has been established as a joint venture with the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria and private investors to manage energy infrastructure.
“Hundreds of young people are being trained to drive the installation and management of this new energy infrastructure,” Otti noted.
The governor reiterated his administration’s willingness to collaborate with federal agencies for mineral development and democratic dividends.
He also praised Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, for his leadership at NEITI and expressed optimism that the retreat would enhance Nigeria’s transparency and accountability framework in the extractive sector.
In his keynote address, Mr Akume described the retreat as a strategic opportunity to reflect on Nigeria’s reform agenda, especially in relation to the energy transition.
“The federal government is taking deliberate steps to ensure that Nigeria’s energy transition is just, inclusive, and beneficial to all Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots level,” Akume said.
He commended the host for creating an enabling environment to discuss national priorities:
“Governor Otti’s transformative development agenda and people-oriented governance model are highly commendable.
We at the federal level have followed with keen interest the broad and coordinated steps his administration is taking to rebuild infrastructure, strengthen governance, improve social services, and enhance security.”
Earlier, NEITI Executive Secretary Ogbonnaya Orji said the agency had commissioned a comprehensive study on the implications of energy transition.
“This retreat should deliver actionable guidelines that will shape our next steps,” he stated, calling on participants to actively support open, solution-driven discussions.
He also thanked the governor for hosting the retreat and supporting the work of NEITI.
