The gale of transparency and probity which has pervaded the operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) under the current dispensation has received a commendation from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

The commendation was conveyed to the Group Managing Director of the corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, through a letter dated 5 March, 2019 and endorsed by Waziri Adio, Executive Secretary of NEITI.

NEITI in the letter acknowledged NNPC’s significant contributions which contributed to Nigeria’s attainment of the highest compliance status in the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives.

According to the document, the decision to confer the status on Nigeria was reached at EITI’s Board meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, on 27 February, 2019, having adjudged Nigeria to have attained “Satisfactory Progress in implementing all EITI requirements”.

The report said: “Nigeria is the first Anglophone African country and one of the seven countries within the EITI community to have attained this status so far.’’

NEITI stated: “We particularly note and commend the increasing collaboration and cooperation from NNPC and its subsidiaries and the new wave of reforms which your organization exemplifies by the monthly disclosure of operational and financial data of the National Oil Company’’.

It pledged to work with the NNPC to ensure that Nigeria continues to sustain its leadership as champion of transparency.

Commenting on the development, Dr. Baru, said the commendentation from NEITI was a testament to the far reaching reforms his Management was carrying out in the corporation to inculcate probity and accountability in all tiers of its operational value chain.

He stated that the NNPC would sustain its adherence to transparency and accountability, saying the corporation was committed to full disclosure of its activities.