NEITI says it is important for the measurement of Nigeria’s crude oil to be achieved through evidence based research.

The Nigerian Academy of Science said it is ready to work with Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, to find workable solutions to the problem of reliable metering system in the oil and gas industry.

The president of the Academy, Oyewale Tomori, who was speaking in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Zainab Ahmed, said it is important for the measurement of Nigeria’s crude oil to be achieved through evidence based research.

Mr. Tomori explained that NEITI’s persistent concern through its audit reports, which showed that there was no reliable scientific mechanism to measure the quantity of crude oil produced in Nigeria, is a national issue that requires the intervention of the Academy.

According to the president of the institution, the Academy, which is made up of renowned scientists from major fields of natural, physical, applied and environmental sciences, would mobilise its members to carry out an in-depth research in collaboration with NEITI in a bid to find lasting solutions to the problem.

He said the goal of the academy would be to come out with a scientific mechanism that would introduce a metering regime to guarantee that Nigeria’s crude oil extracted by oil exploration and production companies are adequately measured to check the continued loss of revenue.

Mr. Tomori said the decision to collaborate with NEITI is a result of exceptional demonstration of courage, integrity, knowledge and professionalism by the transparency promotion agency, which has earned it international recognition.

“The Nigerian Academy of Science is proud to be associated with NEITI over the recent award to Nigeria through its work as the best extractive industries transparency implementing country out of 50 countries at the global conference of EITI in Sydney, Australia,” Mr. Tomori said.

The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Ms Ahmed, described Nigerian Academy of Science as a reservoir of knowledge whose support to NEITI could be of tremendous value for the country.

She identified the introduction of a metering infrastructure in the oil and gas industry as NEITI’s consistent position in its various audit reports, which requires research based knowledge and technology to implement.

“A situation where Nigeria continues to rely on figures provided by the oil companies who are in business for information to determine the quantity of crude produced is inappropriate and unacceptable,” the Executive Secretary added.

Mrs. Ahmed noted that NEITI’s position has always remained that except and until adequate metering technology is introduced to measure accurately the quantity of crude that Nigeria produces, Nigeria would continue to lose huge revenues through manipulations, to oil companies operating in the industry.

She welcomed the decision of Nigerian Academy of Science to intervene in the implementation of this and other findings of NEITI that requires evidence based research to move forward, in an industry that is technology driven.