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

Participants at CISLAC’s Two-day Workshop in Port Harcourt

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

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

The event was organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International Nigeria (TI-Nigeria), in collaboration with the Transparency International Defence and Security Programme. It was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands under the project titled “Protecting Human Security by Tackling the Vicious Cycle of Corruption.”

Participants included civil society groups, media professionals, defence and security personnel, and community-based networks from across Southern Nigeria. The workshop aimed to strengthen civil society’s ability to engage meaningfully in the oversight of defence sector financial, procurement, gender, and operational activities.

Participants at CISLAC’s Two-day Workshop in Port Harcourt
In his opening remarks, CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), stressed the need for citizens and civil society to demand greater openness in a sector long plagued by secrecy and inefficiency.

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In a communique issued at the end of the workshop, participants raised serious concerns over the current state of Nigeria’s defence sector. They observed that civil society engagement is often obstructed by restricted access to information, limited technical capacity, and legal barriers such as the Official Secrets Act. Other challenges include inter-agency rivalry, shady recruitment processes, inflated contracts, and weak external oversight.

Participants also pointed out that Nigeria ranks poorly on the Transparency International Defence Integrity Index, which assesses risks of corruption across political, financial, personnel, operational, and procurement areas. Entrenched secrecy and lack of accountability, they said, are undermining national security and human rights.

The communique recommended several key reforms. These include amending outdated laws that hinder transparency, strengthening collaboration between civil society and the media, and building coalitions to enhance advocacy at both national and sub-national levels. Participants also called for the institutionalisation of whistleblower mechanisms, the auditing of military commercial ventures, and the full computerisation of defence sector payments.

Other recommendations focused on promoting gender inclusion in leadership, improving training on human rights for personnel, and increasing transparency in recruitment, deployment, and budgeting. Civil society was also urged to monitor high-profile corruption cases closely and to push for accountability from security agencies and oversight institutions like the National Assembly and the Office of the Auditor-General.

Participants at CISLAC’s Two-day Workshop in Port Harcourt
The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to sustained advocacy, deeper public engagement, and collaborative efforts to reform Nigeria’s defence and security institutions for the benefit of all citizens.