NEITI, NBS to Develop MoU on Data Integrity

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) are to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on exchange of data, data coordination, data integrity, analysis management and utilisation.

This was the outcome of a meeting in Abuja between the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr Ogbonnaya Orji and the Statistician General of the Federation,  Adeyemi Adeniran.

According to a statement in Abuja by the Deputy Director/Head Communications & Stakeholder Management, NEITI, Obiageli Onuorah, the MoU will define rules of engagement on data sharing and management, access and deployment and measures to strengthen the integrity of data.

The MoU will also outline areas of mutual cooperation between NEITI and NBS on training and manpower development, improvement of information technology (IT) systems and develop frameworks to enhance operational efficiency.

“These pieces of information are required to empower citizens with the knowledge of what number of contracts have been awarded and to which company and the ownership of the companies,” Orji affirmed.

The Statistician General of the Federation (SG), Adeniran, in his remarks emphasised the unique nature of the two agencies based on their brand names, integrity and credibility of their work. He cautioned that this must be protected at all cost because they are accountable to the Nigerian people.

“Our work requires us to imbibe the spirit of transparency and integrity so we cannot afford to do something we cannot defend,” Adeniran explained.

He urged NEITI to generate incisive data on the solid minerals sector just like the agency has done in the oil and gas sector.