Stakeholders across civil society, the military, and the development sector have called for urgent and holistic reforms in Nigeria’s defence and security architecture, citing rising insecurity, lack of transparency, and systemic corruption as major concerns threatening national development and public trust.
The call was made during a one-day conference on “Reforming Nigeria’s Defence and Security Sector: Enhancing Oversight and Addressing Corruption Risks”, held on Wednesday in Abuja. The event was convened by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in collaboration with Transparency International – Defence and Security Programme (TI-DS).
In his opening remarks, Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, stated that without significant reforms, Nigeria’s defence sector will continue to struggle with inefficiency, public distrust, and poor service delivery.
“Defence sector reform is long overdue. Corruption, impunity, and lack of oversight continue to weaken our national security. We need systems that promote transparency, accountability, and value for money,” Rafsanjani said.
He emphasized the urgent need for the National Assembly to take its oversight responsibilities more seriously, particularly in the area of defence procurement and budgeting.
A representative of Transparency International-Defence and Security Programme, Dr. Belinda Nwafor, pointed out that Nigeria ranks among countries where the defence sector remains highly opaque, contributing to poor outcomes in the fight against insecurity.
“The absence of transparency in procurement, poor monitoring mechanisms, and non-existent whistleblower protection within the military structures have allowed corruption to thrive unchecked,” Dr. Nwafor explained.
She called on policymakers to adopt the Government Defence Integrity Index (GDI) recommendations, which stress the need for improved access to information, inclusive policy formulation, and gender sensitivity in the armed forces.
Retired Brigadier General Aliyu Lawal, a security consultant at the event, expressed concern that most defence-related policies are outdated and disconnected from modern security realities.
“We are still working with Cold War-era doctrines in an era of digital warfare. Reform is not a choice anymore—it’s a survival strategy,” he warned.
Panel discussions also touched on issues such as sexual harassment within the armed forces, lack of institutional support for veterans, and the exclusion of women and persons with disabilities from defence-related decision-making.
A representative from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Hauwa Ibrahim, emphasized the link between human rights abuses and lack of accountability in the security sector.
“We cannot talk about national security without ensuring that those who protect us are held to the highest standards. Abuses must be investigated, and victims must be protected,” she noted.
The event concluded with a communique urging the Nigerian government to:
Improve parliamentary and civil oversight of the defence sector
Strengthen whistleblower protections
Include gender and disability-sensitive approaches in defence policies
Commit to open and competitive procurement processes
Implement existing anti-corruption frameworks effectively
Participants included representatives from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Defence Headquarters, Ministry of Defence, civil society organizations, and the media.
As Nigeria continues to battle multiple security threats across its regions, stakeholders maintain that transparent and inclusive reform is the only way to rebuild trust and ensure a safer nation.
