delegation of students from the Nigerian Defence College (NDC), led by Air Commodore E.O. Oludicun, has visited the National Revenue Authority (NRA) in Sierra Leone as part of a study tour aimed at examining how the country manages and collects revenue from its extractive industries.
The visit formed part of the delegation’s broader academic and strategic study programme designed to deepen participants’ understanding of how natural resources contribute to national development and economic stability. During their engagement with officials at the NRA, the delegation focused particularly on the operations of the Authority’s Extractive Industry Revenue Unit (EIRU), which is responsible for monitoring and collecting government revenues from mining activities across the country.
Leading the delegation, Air Commodore Oludicun explained that the study tour was intended to expose participants to practical governance models within the extractive sector. According to him, Sierra Leone’s experience offers valuable lessons for policy, revenue administration, and natural resource management within the West African region.
He noted that the extractive sector remains a major pillar of economic development for many African countries, making it essential for security and policy professionals to understand how revenue is generated, monitored, and reinvested for national growth.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Commissioner General of the National Revenue Authority, the Director of Human Resources, Dora N. Tucker, welcomed the visiting team and commended the longstanding relationship between Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
She highlighted the strong cultural and diplomatic ties shared by both nations, noting that the people of Sierra Leone have historically enjoyed a warm and cooperative relationship with Nigerians.
Tucker further acknowledged the role played by Nigeria during Sierra Leone’s difficult years of conflict, particularly the support provided through regional peacekeeping efforts that contributed to restoring stability in the country.
“The relationship between Sierra Leone and Nigeria goes beyond diplomacy; it is rooted in shared history, cooperation, and mutual respect,” she stated, adding that exchanges such as the NDC study tour help strengthen institutional partnerships and deepen regional understanding.
Providing a detailed technical briefing during the visit, the Assistant Commissioner of the Extractive Industry Revenue Unit, Abu B. Tarawalie, explained the mechanisms used by the Authority to collect revenues generated from mining operations.
Tarawalie outlined that the unit is responsible for overseeing the collection of various forms of revenue from the extractive sector, including taxes, royalties, license fees, and other statutory payments due to the government.
He emphasized that these revenues represent a critical component of Sierra Leone’s domestic resource mobilization efforts and are essential for financing national development programmes.
According to him, effective monitoring and transparent revenue collection in the mining sector are necessary to ensure that the country’s natural resources translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
“The extractive industry plays a vital role in Sierra Leone’s economy, and our responsibility as a revenue administration body is to ensure that the government receives its rightful share from mining activities,” Tarawalie explained.
He also highlighted the importance of collaboration between government agencies, mining companies, and regulatory institutions to strengthen compliance and improve accountability within the sector.
Members of the delegation engaged NRA officials in a series of discussions and questions focused on regulatory frameworks, compliance monitoring, and the challenges associated with revenue collection in the mining industry.
The discussions also touched on issues related to transparency, governance reforms, and the role of technology in improving revenue tracking and reporting within the extractive sector.
Officials at the National Revenue Authority noted that visits of this nature provide an opportunity for knowledge exchange and allow institutions across the region to learn from each other’s experiences in public financial management.
For the visiting students from the Nigerian Defence College, the engagement offered firsthand insight into the administrative and technical processes involved in managing extractive industry revenues in Sierra Leone.
The study tour is expected to continue with additional engagements aimed at exposing the delegation to various governance institutions and development initiatives within the country, further enriching their understanding of how natural resource management supports national growth and regional cooperation.
