Over yet-to-be addressed issues of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and poor metering infrastructure with other deficiencies which have cost the country dearly, the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), said it is worried.

According to Ceoafrica, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Mr Waziri Adio, who stated this yesterday, however applauded government agencies particularly the NNPC for the courage to implement the on-going reforms.

Adio spoke through Donald Tyoachimin, NEITI’s finance officer, in Nasarawa State at a workshop for media practitioners reporting the extractive sector.

He said it was gratifying that audit reports published by the agency have become major instruments leading the ongoing massive reforms that include recommendations for the restructuring of the NNPC, removal of fuel subsidy, cancellation of SWAP/OPA and federal government’s exit from JV cash calls.

“A close look at the NEITI reports from 2000-2014 showed unremitted Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) loans and interest repayments to the tune of $15.8 billion”, he said.

Adio said based on NEITI’s recommendations “there has been a clear directive on the remittance of NLNG dividends directly to the federation account”.

While noting that the agency’s major challenge was in the area of dissemination and use of the report to hold government and companies to account, Waziri said the media required support in the area of capacity building to enable them interpret, understand and disseminate the reports.