From Transparency To Justice: Nigeria’s Resource Advocacy Movement Enters A Bold New Era
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
In a country where natural wealth has long stood in stark contrast to lived realities, a new chapter is unfolding, one that seeks to bridge the gap between extraction and equity.
Nigeria’s foremost civil society coalition on extractive governance has officially transitioned from Publish What You Pay Nigeria to the Resource Justice Network Nigeria (RJN), signalling a broader and more urgent mission to tackle the complex realities of resource management in the country.
Speaking at the network’s strategy launch and partners’ roundtable in Abuja on Wednesday, National Coordinator, Dr Danladi Erisa, described the moment as both a reflection of past achievements and a decisive step into the future.
She noted that for over two decades, the coalition played a pivotal role in promoting transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive sector, supporting reforms, strengthening oversight, and contributing to landmark policies such as the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021.
However, she stressed that the evolving global and local landscape now demands more than financial transparency.
“Natural resource extraction today goes beyond revenues. It directly impacts community rights, environmental sustainability, and even civic space,” he said.
Dr Erisa explained that the rebranding to Resource Justice Network Nigeria reflects a strategic shift towards addressing these broader challenges, including climate change, energy transition, and the protection of communities affected by extraction activities.
She added that the network’s Strategic Plan (2025-2028) prioritises an ecosystem approach, one that connects governance, environment, and social justice, while strengthening collaboration across government, civil society, and the private sector.
The new direction, he said, will also focus on empowering communities through initiatives such as the Community Monitors Network, ensuring that citizens play an active role in decisions affecting their resources and livelihoods.
Describing Nigeria as being at a “critical crossroads,” Dr Erisa warned that growing reliance on fossil fuels, weak regulatory systems in mining, and increasing climate pressures require urgent and coordinated action.
He called on stakeholders to see the launch not merely as a rebranding exercise, but as the birth of a movement aimed at achieving fairness, sustainability, and accountability in resource governance.
“Let this be remembered not just as a launch, but as a renewed movement for justice, equity, and sustainable development,” he urged.
The event brought together key players from government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners, and the private sector, all united by a shared goal, to ensure Nigeria’s vast natural resources benefit its people more equitably.
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