A group, the Centre for Transparency Advocacy, says the memorandum of understanding between NEITI and the National Human Rights Commission will boost the civic space in Nigeria’s extractive sector.

The executive director of CTA, Faith Nwadishi, said this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

Ms Nwadishi is also the convener of Women in Extractives.

She said that the MoU was expected to strengthen civil society participation in line with the 2023 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Standard, particularly Requirement 1.3 and the Civil Society Protocol.

She said that the development represented a significant institutional milestone in Nigeria’s EITI journey.

“It sends a clear signal that the right of civil society and citizens to participate freely, actively and effectively in extractive sector governance is acknowledged and now being anchored within a formal human rights protection framework.

“We congratulate the executive secretary of NEITI, the executive secretary of the NHRC, and the civil society representative on the NEITI National Stakeholders Working Group for their leadership.

“We also commend them for their persistence and commitment in bringing this long-awaited initiative to fruition. We further commend the NHRC for its readiness to partner with NEITI in translating civic space commitments into enforceable protections,” she said.

According to Ms Nwadishi, though the achievement was worth celebrating, the real test lies in implementation.

She called for translating the MoU into concrete, practical actions and deliberate efforts to educate civil society organisations and citizens about the existence, scope, and utility of the MoU.

She also said that the MoU should move from a symbolic document to a living instrument that protects voices, strengthens participation, and deepens accountability in Nigeria’s extractive sector.

(NAN)