Civil Society Pushes for Transparency and Reform in Nigeria’s Defence Sector

Civil society organisations have renewed requires transparency, accountability, and pressing reforms in Nigeria’s defence and safety sector. This follows a two-day capacity-building workshop held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on June 10 and 11, 2025.

The occasion was organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency Worldwide Nigeria (TI-Nigeria), in collaboration with the Transparency Worldwide Defence and Safety Programme. It was supported by the Ministry of Overseas Affairs of the Netherlands underneath the undertaking titled “Defending Human Safety by Tackling the Vicious Cycle of Corruption.”

Contributors included civil society teams, media professionals, defence and safety personnel, and community-based networks from throughout Southern Nigeria. The workshop aimed to strengthen civil society’s capability to have interaction meaningfully within the oversight of defence sector monetary, procurement, gender, and operational actions.

In his opening remarks, CISLAC Government Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), harassed the necessity for residents and civil society to demand larger openness in a sector lengthy stricken by secrecy and inefficiency.

In a communique issued on the finish of the workshop, members raised critical issues over the present state of Nigeria’s defence sector. They noticed that civil society engagement is commonly obstructed by restricted entry to info, restricted technical capability, and authorized limitations such because the Official Secrets and techniques Act. Different challenges embrace inter-agency rivalry, shady recruitment processes, inflated contracts, and weak exterior oversight.

Contributors additionally identified that Nigeria ranks poorly on the Transparency Worldwide Defence Integrity Index, which assesses dangers of corruption throughout political, monetary, personnel, operational, and procurement areas. Entrenched secrecy and lack of accountability, they stated, are undermining nationwide safety and human rights.

The communique really useful a number of key reforms. These embrace amending outdated legal guidelines that hinder transparency, strengthening collaboration between civil society and the media, and constructing coalitions to boost advocacy at each nationwide and sub-national ranges. Contributors additionally referred to as for the institutionalisation of whistleblower mechanisms, the auditing of navy industrial ventures, and the total computerisation of defence sector funds.

Different suggestions centered on selling gender inclusion in management, enhancing coaching on human rights for personnel, and growing transparency in recruitment, deployment, and budgeting. Civil society was additionally urged to watch high-profile corruption circumstances intently and to push for accountability from safety businesses and oversight establishments just like the Nationwide Meeting and the Workplace of the Auditor-Common.

The workshop concluded with a shared dedication to sustained advocacy, deeper public engagement, and collaborative efforts to reform Nigeria’s defence and safety establishments for the good thing about all residents.