The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International Defence and Security Programme (TI-DS) have raised concerns over persistent corruption in Nigeria’s defence sector, warning it is undermining national security.
At a northwest regional press conference in Kano, CISLAC unveiled a policy brief titled “Nigeria’s Defence Sector: Persistent Corruption Risk Amidst Escalating Security Threats”.
Drawing on the 2020 Government Defence Integrity Index and other analyses, the report revealed rampant fraud, mismanagement, and lack of transparency in military spending.
Despite spending over $19.9 billion between 2016 and 2022, Nigeria continues to battle rising insecurity, with more than 14,000 deaths recorded in 19 months.
The country also reportedly holds 70% of West Africa’s illicit arms, fuelling terrorism, banditry, and gender-based violence.
The brief condemned the Defence Ministry’s refusal to grant auditors access to financial records and criticised the opaque use of Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account.
It also highlighted systemic abuse by security forces, including sexual violence during counter-terror operations.
CISLAC called for urgent reforms, including amending the Audit Act, enforcing procurement transparency, strengthening civilian oversight, and implementing the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women’s inclusion in security decision-making.
CISLAC’s Executive Director Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) urged the Nigerian government to adopt international standards, such as the Tshwane Principles, to improve accountability in the defence sector.
