Stakeholders in the Nigerian extractive industry including the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the Nigeria Natural Resource Charter (NNRC), Mining Cadastre Office, amongst others yesterday applauded the emergency extractive360.com, a news portal which focuses on the industry.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony of the portal in Abuja , the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Waziri Adio said the vision of extractive360.com which is to help achieve a sustainable society through prudent management of Nigeria’s extractive resources is at the heart of what NEITI represents and stands for.
Adio, who was represented by the Director, Legal, Peter Ogbobine, expressed confidence that the news portal will meet stakeholders expectations by being a creditable platform and tool that will assist is setting the agenda and shape the conversation on the natural resource governance issues and extractive industries reforms.
“Extractive360.com should be seen as a resource Centre which should advance the implementation of transparency and accountability principles in Nigeria’s extractive sector,” he said.
In her presentation, Program Coordinator, NNRC, Tengi George-Ikoli stressed the need for proper management of the nation’s natural resource pointed out that except the citizens are adequately informed they will not question their allocations and uses.
According to her, the portal will serve as a partner in ensuring proper channel of acquitting the Nigerian citizens and the global community with current information and data on the extractive sector.
She charged the medium to use the platform to advocate for the proper management of nation’s natural resources as well as diversification from focusing on oil to gas.
On his part, the Director General, Mining Cadastre Office, Engr. Simon Nkom said the launch of the portal could not have came at a better time than now.
The DG who was represented by the Senior Technical Adviser, Mining Cadastre Office, Engr. Mustapha Yusuf said the portal will help propagate the potentials of the solid mineral sector to the global community.
In her opening remarks, the Editor of extractive360.com, Juliet Alohan, said platform is designed to serve the interest of stakeholders in the extractives sector.
“The site was initiated and set up as a medium through which stakeholders can contribute their quota in amplifying the need for transformation across the value chain of the Nigerian oil, gas and solid minerals industries. This launch brings us one step closer to achieving our mission,” she said.