By Oscarline Onwuemenyi
The Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force led by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has promised to work closely with the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, to expose corruption in the nation’s oil and gas industry.

This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, during an induction workshop for the legislature on NEITI’s activities, which took place in Calabar, Cross River State, even as she noted that since the country signed up to the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, EITI, in 2003, the role of the legislature in the process has remained one of the missing links.

Ahmed noted that the Initiative was ready and willing to work with any Nigerian, individuals and groups genuinely interested in enthronement of transparency, accountability in the oil, gas and solid minerals sector.

She said, “Our mandate is clear and we will not compromise in the discharge of the mandate. But we are open to partner with anyone who shares similar ideals of openness, trust, accountability and good governance.

“I am delighted that the Chairman of the recently inaugurated Petroleum Special Task Force, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and members of his committee have shown interest to work with NEITI. NEITI has received a request from the Task Force for a meeting to discuss areas of cooperation.

“While NEITI looks forward to a new date for the meeting, it is important to stress that such partnership through inter-agency collaboration is required to deal with complex issues of governance and corporate business ethics in the extractive sector.

According to her, NEITI strongly believes that revenues from Nigeria’s abundant natural resources must support poverty reduction, rebuilding of our infrastructure and improvement in our people’s standard of living.