Former NEITI boss says presidency replaced him in error

By Kunle Sanni –

Former Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Ogbonnaya Orji, has said his replacement by the presidency was carried out in error and without adherence to due process.

President Bola Tinubu had on Tuesday approved the redeployment of Musa Adar to head NEITI, effectively removing Orji, who has led the agency since February 2021. TheCable had earlier reported that Orji was relieved of his position while abroad attending an Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) meeting. His tenure was due to end in three months.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Orji clarified that he had already submitted a voluntary notice of exit to take effect at the completion of his five-year single term on 19 February 2026.

“Before my departure, I formally notified the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chair of the National Stakeholders Working Group of NEITI, in writing, of my intention to exit office upon the completion of my five-year single tenure,” he said.

He added that the announcement of a successor should only have been made after the expiration of his notice period, in accordance with established transition procedures.

Orji said he has since drawn the attention of the appropriate authorities to what he described as an “administrative oversight” and expressed confidence that the matter would be “addressed appropriately.”