Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has called on stakeholders in Nigeria’s extractive industry to adapt to the evolving energy landscape and prioritize transparency and accountability. He made the appeal on Wednesday while declaring open a two-day National Stakeholders’ Retreat and Board Meeting of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) in Umuahia, themed “Impacts of Energy Transition on Nigeria’s Economy.”
In his keynote titled “Prosperity Through Transparency,” Otti emphasized the need for NEITI to develop systems that reflect national interests and prevent the recurrence of past mismanagement in the sector. He urged industry stakeholders to closely follow developments in both traditional and emerging energy sectors.
“The best path forward is to embrace new opportunities from the transition to low and non-carbon energy sources,” Otti said. He noted that Abia State is already preparing for this shift, citing the installation of thousands of solar-powered streetlights across the state. This initiative, he explained, has cut energy costs, improved security, and informed a broader state energy policy.
Governor Otti also highlighted ongoing collaborations with federal agencies to tap into the state’s natural resource potential. He announced the creation of APTAN Energy Limited, a joint venture involving the Abia State Government, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), and private investors. The state is currently training hundreds of youths to support new energy infrastructure.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working with the federal government to deliver tangible democratic dividends and praised NEITI for advancing transparency in the sector. He also commended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr. George Akume, for supporting NEITI’s mission.
Dr. Akume, in his remarks, described the retreat as a key platform for assessing reform efforts in light of the global energy transition. He assured that the federal government is pursuing a just and inclusive approach to energy reform, especially for rural communities. He also lauded Governor Otti’s development agenda and governance reforms, particularly in infrastructure, security, and public service delivery.
NEITI Executive Secretary and CEO, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, said the retreat’s theme was timely and revealed that the organization had commissioned a study on the energy transition’s impact. He expressed hope that the event would produce actionable outcomes and thanked Governor Otti for hosting the retreat.
The Governor attended the event alongside top officials of the Abia State Government.