The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) says it has recorded significant strides in Nigeria’s fight against corruption, recovering over N50 billion since 2019 and saving the Federal Government an additional N10 billion in 2024 alone.
The Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the close-out ceremony of the International Center for Investigative Reporting (ICIR)’s Open Contract Reporting Project (OCRP) and its journalism awards.
Dr. Aliyu lauded the ICIR’s OCRP initiative for its impact on exposing irregularities in public sector procurement, noting that it has been instrumental in uncovering fraudulent practices and enhancing transparency.
“The OCRP is remarkable. It has helped public institutions address some of the challenges within the public sector,” Aliyu said.
“Procurement fraud is a major issue that requires collective effort to tackle. Reducing it will free up significant resources for national development.”
Highlighting lapses in the public procurement process, Aliyu lamented the widespread diversion of public funds by certain officials.
He revealed instances where projects were grossly overpriced, including one where N7 million was spent on an initiative valued at less than N100,000.
“In that particular case, the individual involved boldly said, ‘I have taken it, and what can you do about it? Let’s go to court.’ This reflects the depth of the challenge we face,” Aliyu said.
The ICPC boss further criticized some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for undertaking projects outside their mandates, exposing significant gaps in adherence to procurement laws.
“When we asked MDAs to present their procurement plans, we found that many lacked the mandate for the projects they were executing.
This points to systemic weaknesses and a need for stronger oversight mechanisms,” he stated.
Dr. Aliyu called for rigorous enforcement of procurement laws and improved collaboration among government agencies to combat corruption effectively.
He also emphasized empowering citizens to report suspicious activities to relevant authorities.
“The public must be actively involved. When citizens are informed and empowered to report anomalies, it strengthens the fight against corruption,” he added.
The ICIR’s Open Contract Reporting Project has been pivotal in exposing procurement fraud and other lapses in the public sector, earning praise from anti-corruption advocates for its role in promoting accountability and transparency.
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