GOV. OTTI CALLS FOR ATTENTION TO NEW  ENERGY ORDER, VOWS TO PARTNER FG TO DELIVER  NEEDED DIVIDENDS OF DEMOCRACY.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has called on stakeholders in the extractive industry to pay attention to the new ecosystem with respect to the business of exploration of mineral resources.

Governor Otti made the call while declaring open, a two – day National Stakeholders’ Retreat and Board Meeting of Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) holding in Umuahia with the theme, “Impacts of Energy Transition on Nigeria Economy “.

The Governor, who titled his speech, “Prosperity Through Transparency” stressed the need for NEITI to set up systems that are pro-Nigeria in terms of reporting industrial accountability to avoid a repeat of the costly mistakes of the past.

He said that attention should be paid to the unfolding dynamics of the old and new energy.

“NEITI would do well to pay close attention to the evolution of this new ecosystem with respect to the business of exploration of mineral resources.

” It should set up systems that are pro-Nigeria in terms of reporting and industrial accountability to avoid a repeat of the costly mistakes of the past.

“Stakeholders are encouraged to pay attention to the unfolding dynamics of the old and new energy order to enable the development of appropriate paradigms for optimizing operations and cutting out sharp practices within the extractive industry.

“Whatever happens, the best path for us will be to embrace the new opportunities that are bound to come with the transition to low and non-carbon energy sources,” Gov. Otti stated.

Governor Otti noted that Abia is preparing itself for the future and has installed thousands of solar-powered streetlights across the State to improve security and public safety.

He explained that the initiative has brought about massive savings in energy costs, improved service delivery, and given the State a sense of how to evolve a more holistic energy policy as a State.

Dr. Otti added that the State is partnering with agencies of the Federal Government to explore and develop the State’s rich deposits of natural resources and turn them into productive revenue earning assets.

He revealed that currently, hundreds of young people are being trained to drive the installation and management of the new energy infrastructure and said that he has set up an investment vehicle called APTAN Energy Limited, a joint venture that has the Abia State Government, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, and a consortium of private investors as partners.

The Governor used the opportunity to assure that he is committed to working with the federal government to deliver the needed dividends of democracy.

Governor Otti who commended NEITI for the transformative initiatives it has put in place to promote a system of transparent reporting and accounting of the revenue streams lauded the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Dr. George Akume for upholding the ideals of the institution and expressed the hope that the resolutions that would be reached at the end of the  exercise would further consolidate the gains that have been made in optimizing the reporting and accountability framework in Nigeria’s extractive industry.

In his keynote, the former Governor of Benue State, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the National Stakeholder Working Group of NEITI, Sen. Dr. George Akume said that the retreat serves as a strategic platform to reflect on, review and adjust  efforts towards reforms in the extractive sector, particularly regarding the global energy transition.

He said that the federal government is taking deliberate steps to ensure that Nigeria’s energy transition is just, inclusive, and beneficial to all Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots level.

Dr. Akume expressed the federal government’s appreciation to Governor Otti for providing the enabling environment conducive enough to host the national retreat .

“Governor Otti’s transformative development agenda and people-oriented governance model are highly commendable.

“We at the federal level have followed with keen interest the broad and coordinated steps his administration is taking to rebuild infrastructure, strengthen governance, improve social services, and enhance security, Dr. Akume stated.

Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Secretary and CEO of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji said that the theme, “Impacts of Energy Transition on Nigeria Economy ” is apt and informed the participants that the transition in the energy business presents challenges of innovation.

He disclosed that NEITI commissioned a detailed study on the impact on the energy transition and noted that the study has made commendable progress

He said that he expects the retreat to deliver actionable guidelines  for the institution and called on all participants to support the open debates and appreciated Abia State Governor for hosting the retreat.

The Governor was accompanied to the event by retinue of government officials.

UKOHA NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State, Government House Umuahia.
07 – 05 – 2025.

The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has saluted Governor Alex Otti’s leadership style and said that his policies align with the values NEITI represents.

The Alternate Chairman of the NEITI Board, Ambassador Sunday Adoli, was speaking when he led a delegation of the board and management of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative to pay courtesy call on the Governor ahead of the national retreat of the institution holding in Abia State.

Ambassador Adoli, who doubles as the representative of the North-Central region at the board, said that NEITI is pleased with the Governor’s commitment to fiscal openness and reforms that prioritise fiscal discipline.

“Abia State, under your (Gov. Otti) leadership, is fast becoming a reference point. We have followed with keen interest and the transformational reforms you have introduced.

“Reforms that prioritise fiscal discipline, infrastructure renewal, access to quality health care, education, urban regeneration and corporate governance. These are not political statements.

“As an agency that promotes transparency and accountability in the extractive industries, NEITI is particularly pleased to note your commitment to fiscal openness and your emphasis on the social contract between government and citizens.

“This aligns perfectly with the values that NEITI represents, values anchored on proven results, youth, public trust and sustainable development,

“They are developmental realities that reflect a new culture of responsible leadership and purposeful governance. ” Adoli noted.

Ambassador Adoli who described Dr. Otti as dynamic and performing Governor with high record of transparency, disclosed that the NEITI Board and the Secretariat are in Abia for their statutory meeting and strategic retreat and said that the decision to hold the retreat in Abia State was not accidental.

“Our decision to hold this important national engagement in Abia state was not accidental. It was a conscious and deliberate choice.

“We are here to shine a spotlight on positive governance at the subnational level. We are here to identify and support states that are deploying public resources to uplift citizens, deepen accountability, and lay strong foundations for inclusive development.

He equally said that he is proud that NEITI’s current Executive Secretary and CEO, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, is a prominent son of Abia State, and has brought national and international recognition to NEITI.

Responding, the the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti said that his government is anchored on transparency and informed the delegation that the moderate successes the administration has achieved in the last 23 months is as a result of prudence in the management of resources

“I want to say that NEITI stands for transparency. It stands for Integrity. These are the key words in our administration. Our administration has zero tolerance for corruption.

“At the heart of everything we are doing is transparency. Sometimes, people struggle to understand how we are doing all the things we are doing in such a short time with limited resources and without borrowing.

“It all goes back to prudence. So, in terms of management of resources, we try to be very good at it, we try to get the best deal.
It’s either we are doing something or we are not doing it.

“You can see that I’m still operating from my room. It’s not the most comfortable thing to do, but by the time we came here, we found that there are too many things left undone that deserve immediate attention.

“As a student of economics, we had to set up a scale of preference, what is most important,” Gov. Otti stated.

He thanked NEITI for the choice of Abia for its annual retreat, saying that Abia State Government cannot take it for granted. He also appreciated the appointment of an Abia born Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji as the Executive Secretary of NEITI and described the appointment as well deserved.

The meeting was attended by senior Government appointees.

Ctz. UKOHA NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
06 – 05 –2025.