NEITI to unveil data centre ‘to enhance transparency in extractive industry’

The Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) says it is set to unveil a data centre to enhance decision-making and positive development in the industry.

In a statement on Monday, the initiative said the fully automated state-of-the-art centre is reputed to be the first of its kind among the 57 EITI-implementing countries.

NEITI said the data centre completion is in line with the implementation of the projects to institutionalise EITI in Nigeria under NEITI’s five-year strategic plan.

According to Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, the executive secretary of NEITI, the centre will serve as a one-stop shop for information and data on Nigeria’s extractive sector — consisting of oil, gas, and solid minerals.

“The Centre will also serve as a reservoir for all information and data published in the various NEITI Annual Industry Reports since the first edition in 2004 till date,” he said.

“Also, the Centre will serve as a warehouse for all extractive industry data in aggregated and disaggregated formats for easy public access by multi-stakeholders, especially the civil society, the media, extractive industry companies, government agencies, and the legislature.

“Besides, the Centre will also provide data information analysis, training, and manpower development in data science education deployment and utilisation required to sustain a robust public knowledge and understanding of Nigeria’s extractive industry.”

Orji further said the conception of the centre, which aligns with Nigeria’s commitments to fully comply with the open data policy requirements under the EITI 2023 standards, will provide backbone support for the NEITI/EITI systematic disclosure programme.

He added that the data centre was also conceived to enhance easy access to reliable data, ensure data security, and management as well as enhance dissemination engagements with the country’s extractive industry.

Apart from providing evidence-led stakeholders-civic-engagement that supports public debate, Orji said the new centre will support NEITI’s contribution and value addition to national planning and development.

“Diverse groups that have come to invest enormous trust in NEITI’s capability and capacity to provide timely, credible information and data for informed decision-making, engagements, and advocacy over the years see the data centre as a game changer and positive disruptive development,” he said.

Speaking further on why the project missed its initial March 2024 completion deadline, Orji attributed the delay to unforeseen circumstances beyond the initiative’s control — such as delays in the release of funds, painstaking procurement procedures, advertisements, and painstaking open, competitive procurement processes, among others.

Orji also applauded President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its support to ensure the completion of the project.