The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International Defence and Security Programme (TI-DS) have called for strengthened citizen oversight and transparency in Nigeria’s defence spending, warning that unchecked corruption is fueling insecurity and eroding public trust in the military.

At a regional press briefing held on Thursday in Kano, CISLAC unveiled a critical policy document titled “Nigeria’s Defence Sector: Persistent Corruption Risk Amidst Escalating Security Threats.”

SolaceBase reports that the brief spotlighted the urgent need for accountability reforms in the military establishment, particularly through the active involvement of civilians and independent institutions.

Despite Nigeria allocating over $19.9 billion to the defence sector between 2016 and 2022, the country remains mired in widespread insecurity, with more than 14,000 people reportedly killed in the past 19 months. The policy brief attributes this disturbing trend to systemic mismanagement, lack of financial transparency, and outright abuse within the defence system.

One of the report’s central concerns was the Defence Ministry’s refusal to allow audit access to its financial records, raising red flags about the misuse of public funds, especially from the Excess Crude Account.

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The brief also pointed to serious human rights violations by security operatives, including incidents of sexual violence during counter-insurgency operations.

CISLAC’s Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), stressed the importance of civilian participation in security governance.

He advocated the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which promotes women’s inclusion in peace and security decisions.

“This is not just about corruption; it’s about restoring the integrity of our defence sector and ensuring that those entrusted with our security are held accountable,” Rafsanjani said. “We are urging the government to embrace international best practices like the Tshwane Principles and to amend outdated legislation such as the Audit Act to strengthen transparency and oversight.”

The policy document also revealed that Nigeria accounts for nearly 70% of West Africa’s illicit arms, a factor that continues to fuel terrorism, banditry, and gender-based violence across the country.