The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, has highlighted Nigeria’s technology-driven anti-corruption efforts at the 16th Regional Conference and Annual General Meeting of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa held in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The conference, organised by the National Anti-Corruption Commission of Cameroon in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat, focused on the theme: “Deploying Artificial Intelligence in the Fight Against Corruption in Commonwealth Africa.”
Representing the ICPC Chairman at the event, the Commission’s Head of External Cooperation, Ahmed Abdul, presented Nigeria’s country paper and outlined the successes of the Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI), a technology-based monitoring system designed to improve transparency and accountability in government-funded projects.
“CEPTI is a proactive technology-based mechanism designed to ensure transparency, accountability and value for money in the execution of government-funded projects across Nigeria,” Abdul said.
According to him, CEPTI uses geospatial mapping technology to monitor, validate and analyse constituency and executive projects across the country in real time.
He disclosed that projects valued at over N22.9 trillion have been tracked under the initiative since its inception, while recoveries from poorly executed projects have exceeded N4.9 billion.
“The initiative has significantly reduced corrupt practices associated with public infrastructure delivery, including contract inflation, diversion of public funds, ghost projects and project abandonment,” Abdul stated.
He added that the Federal Government also saved more than N91.4 billion through the cancellation, re-scoping and prevention of inflated contracts.
“The initiative has compelled contractors to return to abandoned project sites for completion, thereby ensuring value for money and improved service delivery,” he added.
Dr. Aliyu further stressed that Artificial Intelligence, data analytics and geospatial technology have become essential tools in promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
“Artificial Intelligence, data analytics and geospatial technology have become critical tools in strengthening transparency and accountability in governance,” the ICPC Chairman said.
He urged anti-corruption agencies across Commonwealth Africa to institutionalise technology-driven project-tracking systems and strengthen cooperation in digital investigations and data science.
“We must deepen collaboration in digital investigation and data science while institutionalising technology-driven project-tracking frameworks across Commonwealth Africa,” Aliyu stated.
At the end of the conference, participating anti-corruption agencies adopted resolutions aimed at strengthening the deployment of Artificial Intelligence in tackling corruption across the continent.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, delegates agreed to promote digital transformation in public service delivery, encourage the use of digital technologies in public procurement and public finance management, and strengthen frameworks for asset recovery.
The agencies also resolved to build the capacity of anti-corruption personnel in the use of Artificial Intelligence for investigations, evidence gathering and prosecution of corruption cases.
Participants further agreed to empower young people with digital skills to promote integrity and accountability across Africa.
The committee announced that the National Anti-Corruption Commission of Cameroon will chair the Association of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa for the 2026–2027 term, while Kenya will host the 17th Regional Conference and Annual General Meeting in 2027.