The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has tracked about 950 projects valued at roughly ₦415.25 billion across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory as part of efforts to strengthen accountability in the use of public funds.
Gatekeepers News reports that Chairman of the commission, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a workshop organised in partnership with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Aliyu explained that the projects were monitored under the Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI), which he described as a preventive strategy aimed at ensuring government spending delivers tangible benefits to citizens.
He also revealed that projects handled by the Federal Ministry of Works valued at more than ₦21.23 trillion had been tracked, underscoring the magnitude of the commission’s oversight activities.
According to him, the monitoring exercise has uncovered abandoned and poorly executed projects, compelled contractors to return to project sites, and improved accountability in service delivery.
The ICPC chairman stressed that prevention remains the most effective approach in the fight against corruption, noting that tracking public projects is a vital tool in discouraging the misuse of resources.
Aliyu further called for deeper collaboration between the commission and the media, describing journalists as critical partners in promoting transparency and holding public officials accountable.
He said the workshop, themed “Reinvigorating the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2022–2026): A Post-Assessment Roadmap for the Fourth Estate,” was intended to generate practical ideas and strengthen partnerships in the country’s anti-corruption efforts.
In a goodwill message, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Emmanuel Udende, described corruption as a major obstacle to national development, warning that it erodes trust, weakens institutions, and deprives citizens of essential services.
Udende reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to strengthening legislative frameworks and oversight functions to support transparency and good governance.
Other speakers, including the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali Mohammed Ali, and the Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos, emphasised the importance of sustained cooperation among institutions, the media, and citizens in building a culture of integrity and accountability.
They reiterated that the media plays a crucial role in preventing corruption, describing it as a powerful instrument for civic education and public awareness.
Dembos noted that leveraging the media would significantly boost public enlightenment efforts, enabling citizens to better understand and resist corrupt practices while supporting institutional accountability.
Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Dr. Kole Shettima, described the forum as an important step toward tackling one of Nigeria’s most persistent challenges and promoting transparency in governance.
He said corruption continues to undermine national development by weakening institutions and eroding public trust, stressing that addressing the issue requires collective responsibility and sustained collaboration across sectors.
Shettima called for a move beyond rhetoric toward measurable cooperation that fosters integrity and restores public confidence, expressing optimism that continued partnership between the media and anti-corruption agencies would strengthen systems that deter corruption and promote good governance.
The workshop was officially declared open by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, who was represented by the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Baba-Ndace. He urged journalists to maintain and improve professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
