AS THE global community on Tuesday observes International Anti-Corruption Day, a leading Nigerian civil society organisation, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has warned that corruption remains the most pervasive threat to the nation’s development, democratic stability, and security.
CITAD, in a statement signed by YZ Ya’u, its Executive Director, said the fight against graft is a battle for Nigeria’s very future, demanding urgent reforms that bridge traditional governance and the evolving digital landscape.
Under the 2025 global theme: “United Against Corruption for Development, Peace and Security,” CITAD reaffirmed its commitment to promoting accountability and good governance, as it presented a sobering assessment of the status quo, noting that despite ongoing efforts, corruption continues to cripple public institutions, divert essential resources, fuel widespread insecurity, and steadily erode the fragile trust between the state and its citizens.
“The persistence of corruption, particularly in public procurement, electoral processes, and the management of public finances, signals a need for renewed commitment and far stronger systemic reforms,” the statement read.
It particularly highlighted that as Nigeria accelerates its digital transformation, new and sophisticated avenues for corruption have emerged, demanding immediate and vigilant attention.
CITAD expressed profound concern over the manifestation of corruption within digital systems, citing opaque data governance, the political weaponisation of cybercrime laws, the misuse of digital surveillance tools, and a lack of oversight for public digital infrastructure.
“Embedding accountability in the digital ecosystem is no longer optional; it is an existential imperative for our nation,” the statement asserted, arguing that the anti-corruption fight must now be waged with equal vigour in both offline and online governance spaces.
The organisation critiqued the shrinking civic space online, linking it directly to the struggle against corruption. It noted that digital platforms represent the most accessible means for citizen expression and oversight.
“The growing culture of weaponizing such expressions of opinion is inconsistent with our democratic aspirations and must not be tolerated,” CITAD declared.
It called on the government not only to demonstrate full tolerance for digital dissent but to actively prevent public officials from misusing security agencies to harass or intimidate critics.
“Without safe, open, and free online spaces for civic participation,” the statement cautioned, “Nigeria’s commitment to fighting corruption will remain merely rhetorical.”
To translate principle into practice, CITAD issued a six-point call to action directed at the government and all stakeholders.
The demands include strengthening transparency mechanisms at all tiers of government, promoting digital accountability in procurement and data governance, and ensuring the full and unimpeded implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
It also emphasised the critical need to protect activists, journalists, and whistle-blowers who expose corruption, and to invest in civic and digital literacy to empower citizens, especially youth and women, to identify and resist corrupt practices.
CITAD further urged anti-corruption agencies to specifically prioritise investigating digitally enabled corruption, strengthen whistle-blower protection frameworks, and resist political interference that undermines enforcement.
“As Nigeria confronts profound economic challenges, insecurity, and pressures on its democratic institutions, the cost of corruption has never been more severe,” the statement observed, noting that meaningful progress is contingent on collective action, underpinned by genuine transparency, robust accountability, and civic engagement powered by digital governance reforms.
Ya’u reiterated CITAD’s unwavering commitment to building a society where integrity is paramount, institutions are transparent, and every citizen can participate in governance without fear.
