Spaces for Change (S4C) has announced that the fourth edition of the National Extractives Dialogue (NED 2025) will be held from July 30 to 31, in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State.
S4C disclosed that the event will be held in partnership with the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD), and with support from the Ford Foundation.
In a statement signed by the Executive Director of S4C, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, on Friday, the fourth edition is themed “Transitions, Divestments, and Critical Minerals: Charting a Just Future for Nigeria’s Extractive Sector.”
“Now in its fourth edition, the Dialogue will gather over 150 stakeholders from across West Africa, including government officials, regulators, civil society actors, host community representatives, academics, and the private sector, for a high-level, solutions-driven conversation on the future of extractive governance in Nigeria.
“Nigeria’s extractives sector is undergoing a seismic shift. On one front, international oil companies are accelerating their exit from onshore oil assets, raising urgent questions around decommissioning, legacy pollution, and community safeguards. On another front, global demand for critical minerals like lithium and cobalt is drawing renewed attention to Nigeria’s untapped reserves and the regulatory and environmental frameworks that will govern their development.
“These shifts present both enormous risks and historic opportunities. Still, if left unchecked, they could deepen long-standing injustices in communities already burdened by pollution, displacement, and exclusion from decision-making processes. Against this backdrop, NED2025 comes at a defining moment to pause, reflect, and reframe Nigeria’s extractive future,” the statement reads in part.
Ibezim-Ohaeri said that the Dialogue will explore pressing questions, including: How are divestment processes being managed? What safeguards are in place for host communities and ecosystems? How can Nigeria avoid a repeat of the extractive injustices of the past? What robust and accountable frameworks are needed to manage extractive transitions responsibly?
She affirmed that since its inception, NED has served as a constructive platform for spotlighting the complex realities of extractive governance in Nigeria and the broader West African region.
“Past editions have inspired community-led action, catalyzed regulatory reforms, amplified marginalized voices, and deepened public discourse on accountability in the extractive sector. NED2025 builds on this legacy, not only raising urgent questions, but also offering concrete strategies for reform.”
The Executive Director noted that the Dialogue will spotlight themes such as environmental remediation, host community rights, energy transition, climate justice, and investor accountability.
Ibezim-Ohaeri stated that it will also feature regional reflections and cross-border learning, recognising that Nigeria’s experience is deeply connected to broader dynamics across West Africa.
She emphasised that NED 2025 issues a clear call — Nigeria must approach this new phase of extraction with foresight, grounded in the lessons of its past, as global conversations on energy and mineral transitions accelerate.
“What lies ahead is not just an economic shift, but a defining moment that will shape the future of governance, equity, and environmental accountability in its extractive sector. Whether this transition delivers meaningful progress or deepens existing disparities will depend on the choices made now and the strength of the institutions and safeguards put in place,” the statement added.
