Nigeria’s Defence Sector at High Risk of Corruption, Says Report

By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna

A report by Transparency International Defence & Security, in collaboration with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International Nigeria, reveals that Nigeria’s defence sector is at high to critical risk of corruption.

The 2025 Government Defence Integrity Index (GDI) assesses Nigeria’s defence sector across five risk areas: financial, operational, personnel, political, and procurement. The report highlights widespread corruption risks, with critical vulnerabilities in financial transparency, operational accountability, and procurement practices.

This is contained in a press statement signed by Comrade Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani and made available to Newsmen.

“Widespread Violence and Insecurity Nigeria is plagued by widespread violence, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, and farmer-herder conflict in the Middle Belt, which challenges state authority and public institutions.

“Weak Governance and Oversight
Civilian oversight of the armed forces is constrained by weak enforcement, outdated legal provisions, inadequate technical capacity, restricted transparency, and recurring allegations of human rights violations during security operations.

“Nigeria scores very high overall risk, with critical financial and operational risks, very high procurement risks, moderate personnel risks, and high political risks.

According to the statement “Financial Risk: 16/100 (Critical) – Large portions of defence spending are shielded from public scrutiny through classification and security votes. Operational Risk: 12/100. Corruption undermines military effectiveness, with no explicit framework treating corruption as a strategic risk.
Procurement Risk: 23/100 (Very High) – Defence procurement is characterised by pervasive secrecy and weak external scrutiny.

“Personnel Risk: 50/100 (Moderate) – Nigeria’s military personnel system shows active but uneven disciplinary enforcement. Political Risk: 37/100 (High) – Defence oversight remains uneven and reactive, sustaining moderate corruption risks.

“Financial transparency in Nigeria’s defence sector presents critical corruption risks, with large portions of defence spending shielded from public scrutiny.

The report notes that actual expenditure data are rarely published, and defence-linked commercial enterprises operate with minimal disclosure or audit visibility.

“Operations represent the weakest area, with corruption undermining military effectiveness and no explicit framework treating corruption as a strategic risk.

The report highlights that anti-corruption considerations are not clearly integrated into forward operational planning, and there is no evidence that commanders consistently apply corruption-risk awareness in the field.

Procurement Risks Very High
Defence procurement presents very high corruption risks, with pervasive secrecy and weak external scrutiny.

The report notes that open competition is uncommon, with direct sourcing widely enabled by statutory exemptions, particularly during counter-insurgency operations.

“Nigeria’s military personnel system shows active but uneven disciplinary enforcement, with concerns around transparency and payroll integrity.

The report highlights that formal disciplinary mechanisms are in place and occasionally enforced across ranks, with documented investigations, court-martials, dismissals, and convictions for corruption and misconduct.

The report highlights large shortcomings in oversight of defence institutions, financial and procurement transparency, and the protection and inclusion of civic space.

Executive dominance frequently constrains parliamentary oversight of defence institutions, while restricted access to information prevents legislatures and audit bodies from properly scrutinising defence spending and activities.

The report calls for strengthened oversight, increased transparency, and improved civic engagement to combat corruption in Nigeria’s defence sector.

Dr Francesca Grandi, Director of Transparency International Defence and Security, emphasizes that corruption in defence sectors is a protection failure.

“Government Response Needed
The government must address these vulnerabilities and ensure accountability in defence spending. *Corruption undermines security and diverts public resources away from those who need them most.

The report provides a roadmap for addressing corruption risks in Nigeria’s defence sector. Nigeria’s defence sector is at high risk of corruption, and urgent action is needed to address these vulnerabilities.

The report concludes that without stronger oversight, greater transparency, and meaningful space for civil society engagement, corruption in the defence sector will continue to undermine security and divert public resources away from those who need them most.