In their Natural Resource Governance and EITI Implementation in Nigeria, Musa Abutudu and Dauda Garuba provide the most up-to-date and in-depth analysis of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), providing a balanced yet critical evaluation of its performance, limitations and potential as an institution for helping Africa's largest oil exporter to escape the so-called resource curse and lay a firm basis for sustainable development. This Current African Issue contains valuable insights and information that will be of interest to all those with a keen interest in institutionalising transparency and accountability in natural resource governance in Africa.

In a world characterized by globalization, governments increasingly find themselves unable to govern. Corruption is everywhere, natural resources are being exploited, the environment damaged, markets distorted, and the fight against poverty is often ineffective. Certain challenges cannot be addressed by governments alone. Increasingly, collective governance “beyond governments” is seen as part of the solution, with state and non-state actors working together. This book sets out a framework for those wishing to implement collective governance, involving civil society, companies and governments as key actors. Based on over eight years of running the most advanced example of collective governance at international level, the Head and Deputy Head of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) outline the practicalities and pitfalls, and draw out the experience of the EITI as a case example. Beyond Governments tells a positive story of how this type of innovative governance can make real achievements, but also cautions against those who see collective governance as a silver bullet to solve development challenges. It provides practical guidance from a practitioner’s perspective and is essential reading for those in government, business and academia.

Oil, natural gas, and mineral deposits (“Extractive Resources”) offer the potential to generate significant financial benefits and help countries fuel their economic growth and development, employment, business opportunities, and incomes, ultimately leading to a better life for the citizens of those countries through sustained poverty reduction and inclusive growth. Leveraging these Extractive Resources to attain such beneficial outcomes requires accountability and transparency in governance. The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) was launched in 2002 in an effort to improve public accountability of governments. It provides a pathway to better managed Extractive Resources that benefit the people of a country. EITI is a global standard designed to improve transparency in the sector by publication of reconciled payments by companies and revenues received by governments from oil, gas, and mining exploration and production operations. It helps to promote and support improved governance, especially in resource-rich countries. This handbook builds upon an earlier publication, “Implementing EITI: Applying Early Lessons from the Field” (Darby 2008), issued by the World Bank Oil, Gas and Mining unit (SEGOM) and the EITI Multi-donor Trust Fund. Using the Extractive Industries Value Chain as an analytical tool, this handbook holistically analyzes the importance of EITI to domestic economies, governance structures, and local populations, and suggests measures to leverage its potential to ensure inclusive growth and sustainable development. The basic purpose of this handbook is to provide: • Guidance to stakeholders (including policymakers, industry, and civil society) in countries currently implementing, or seeking to implement, EITI; • Guidance on the measures required to launch and implement EITI successfully; and • Guidance to EITI implementing countries in “mainstreaming” EITI into the good-governance agenda by recommending global good-fit practices that build on the EITI standards and practices. EITI stakeholders and implementing countries will benefit greatly from this handbook

Nigeria has been acclaimed as a model for the implementation of the principles established under the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). The goal of the principles is to promote accountability and effective management of resource revenues, which in turn would result in improvements in public welfare and better developmental outcomes, such as a more equitable distribution of wealth, improved socio-economic conditions, and poverty alleviation. However, a look at the socioeconomic condition in Nigeria raises questions regarding the impact of the achievements of NEITI on public welfare. Corruption remains endemic in the oil and gas industry, the sector on which the implementation of the EITI principles has been almost entirely focused. This article analyzes Nigeria's experience with the implementation of NEITI with a view to theorizing about the reasons behind the lack of, or minimal, improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians as well as the persistence of corruption despite Nigeria's acclaimed achievements in EITI implementation. The article argues that while EITI is an important driver of economic progress in Nigeria, it should not be viewed as enough to overcome the broader problems hindering improvements in public welfare. Other factors are necessary to translate the gains of EITI into visible public welfare improvements. The article identifies those factors and analyzes how they hold back the gains of EITI in Nigeria as well as its implications for emerging extractive countries signing or considering signing up with EITI.

The book provides an in-depth analysis of the governance of Africa's natural resource sectors (oil, biofuels, forestry, fisheries, minerals) and new insights for readers as they navigate the burgeoning research on global governance initiatives and regional/national strategies that seek to improve the governance of the continent's natural resources.

The Routledge Handbook of Natural Resource Governance in Africa provides a comprehensive analysis of African natural resource governance, stretching across the continent, and encompassing water, land, extractive resources, and mining. Africa’s natural resources are not only crucial for the continent from an economic, environmental, and political perspective, but they are also of significant geopolitical importance, with direct implication for meeting the global challenges outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals. Whether an abundance of natural resources proves to be a curse or a blessing depends on the nature, extent, and outcome of the effort and experience of an individual country in governing and managing such assets. It is with this in mind that this ground-breaking handbook brings together experts from across the field of natural resource development to reflect on the varied regime types and paradigms within the continent’s natural resource sectors, the specific challenges they face, and their role within global value chains. The book first considers governance for sustainable development and discourses of land and development financing, before going on to investigate the regulatory and policy impacts, and socioeconomic implications of natural resource management. Finally, the Handbook situates the African continent within the emerging global energy transition; examining trends in South-South cooperation, and new frontiers for the harnessing of critical tools in a sustainable future for natural resource governance and management. Overall, the Handbook’s in-depth analysis provides a unique blend of realism and optimism, highlighting the importance of building a new sustainable African resource narrative for shared prosperity. The handbook will be an essential read for researchers and policy makers with an interest in sustainable development and natural resource governance in Africa.