Political Risk:
High
Score:
37/100
1
50/100
Is there formal provision for effective and independent legislative scrutiny of defence policy?
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The National Assembly (NASS) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is made up of the Senate and House of Representative (HoR), and both have…
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As part of their oversight responsibilities and their role in shaping national defence policies and operations, the NASS debates and reviews defence policy and…
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Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution, provides that the National Assembly can summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence before it over any…
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2
33/100
Does the country have an identifiable and effective parliamentary defence and security committee (or similar such organisations) to exercise oversight?
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The National Assembly of Nigeria is empowered to scrutinize various aspects of the performance of the Ministry of Defence and its agencies’ activities and…
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Although the NASS has formal oversight rights over the defence sector, its capacity to perform its oversight functions is considerably limited by the lack…
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The formulation of Nigeria’s Defence Policy is a core responsibility of the MOD [1]. The Ministry of Defence, in July 2023, noted that defence…
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In Nigeria, the government’s fiscal year is the same as the calendar year. It runs from 1 January to 31 December [1]. The government…
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In the realm of lawmaking, legislative committees play a fundamental role in maintaining official oversight and governance of the defence sector in Nigeria [1].…
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Ministries sometimes incorporate recommendations into practice, but not regularly. For instance, the National Defence Policy 2017, which had input from the NASS provides for…
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3
8/100
Is the country’s national defence policy or national security strategy debated and publicly available?
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Nigeria’s defence policy was first formulated in 2006 and revised ten years after in 2017 [1]. However, the MOD inaugurated a committee to review…
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Nigeria’s defence policy was first formulated in 2006 and revised ten years after in 2017 [1]. Nigeria’s first-ever National Security Strategy was first formulated…
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The Nigerian National Defence Policy (NNDP) comprises the philosophy and objectives of the country’s defence policy [1]. In September 2021, the Ministry of Defence…
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The two critical national guidance documents in this regard are Nigerian National Defence Policy (2017) and National Security Strategy (2019). While hardcopies of the…
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4
33/100
Do defence and security institutions have a policy, or evidence, of openness towards civil society organisations (CSOs) when dealing with issues of corruption?
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There is no formal or informal policy that requires openness towards civil society organisations (CSOs) in the defence sector. The few CSOs that focus…
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Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Nigeria operate within a complex policy, regulatory, and legislative framework that the government or party in power rely on…
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Defence and security institutions are engaging with a range of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on defence and security issues. The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES)…
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5
63/100
Has the country signed up to the following international anti-corruption instruments: UNCAC and the OECD Convention?
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6
50/100
Is there evidence of regular, active public debate on issues of defence? If yes, does the government participate in this debate?
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The outbreak and persistence of violent security threats that endanger Nigeria’s defence and security and the nature of responses by the Nigerian state have…
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The government engages in discussion with the public about defence issues through open forums, an active website, or at media briefings, although these engagements…
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7
38/100
Does the country have an openly stated and effectively implemented anti-corruption policy for the defence sector?
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Nigeria has a revised National Anti-Corruption Strategy – NACS (2022-2026). The NACS established a committee comprising all ACAs, relevant MDAs, government and private sector…
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Nigeria National Anti-Corruption Strategy – NACS (2022-2026) provides a government-wide anti-corruption posture that should apply to Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The NACS established…
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8
83/100
Are there independent, well-resourced, and effective institutions within defence and security tasked with building integrity and countering corruption?
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There are identifiable compliance and ethics units within defence and security that are mandated to handle integrity and corruption in defence, but there are…
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In 2003, the Federal government considered and approved the request of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to establish the…
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The Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) is the institutions tasked with building integrity and countering corruption within the Ministry of Defence [1]. The ACTU…
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9
NS/100
Does the public trust the institutions of defence and security to tackle the issue of bribery and corruption in their establishments?
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Nigeria has witnessed unprecedented deterioration of internal security in the last two decades. There is a widely held view that corruption within the defence…
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10
0/100
Are there regular assessments of the areas of greatest corruption risk for ministry and armed forces personnel, and are the findings used as inputs to the anti-corruption policy?
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Nigeria National Anti-Corruption Strategy – NACS (2022-2026) provides a government-wide anti-corruption posture that should apply to Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs). It provides that…
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Risk assessments are not considered by the ACTU, therefore, this indciator is scored Not Applicable.[1]
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Risk assessments are not considered by the ACTU, therefore, this indciator is scored Not Applicable.[1]
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11
25/100
Does the country have a process for acquisition planning that involves clear oversight, and is it publicly available?
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Nigeria has a process for acquisition planning, which is basically governed by the Public Procurement Act (PPA) of 2007 [1]. The PPA 2007 aims…
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Regarding acquisition planning, the Nigerian public has very limited access to information about the process itself, because a great deal of information is excluded…
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The Parliament through its Senate and House of Representatives’ Committees on Defence undertake oversight of the activities of the Ministry, Departments and Agencies within…
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12
75/100
Is the defence budget transparent, showing key items of expenditure? And it is provided to the legislature in a timely fashion?
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While Nigeria does publish its defence budget and provides it to the National Assembly (NASS). The NASS reviews and debates the budget, including the…
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The Nigerian budget process involves the submission of the budget proposal by the executive branch to the National Assembly (NASS). Budgets need to be…
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13
75/100
Is there a legislative committee (or other appropriate body) responsible for defence budget scrutiny and analysis in an effective way?
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The National Assembly (NASS) has established standing committees in both houses of the Senate and House of Representatives to ensure parliamentary oversight of the…
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The National Assembly of Nigeria is empowered to scrutinize various aspects of the performance of the Ministry of Defence and its agencies, including budgets,…
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14
33/100
Is the approved defence budget made publicly available? In practice, can citizens, civil society, and the media obtain detailed information on the defence budget?
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Nigeria does publish its defence budget as passed by the National Assembly (NASS). While the budget documents are publicly accessible, the approved defence budget…
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Nigeria’s approved national budget—including the defence allocation—is publicly available through platforms such as Budgetpedia.ng and the Budget Office of the Federation, which provides substantial…
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Nigeria does publish its budget which also contains allocations to the security and defence sector. However, obtaining information on some of the aspects of…
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15
17/100
Are sources of defence income other than from central government allocation (from equipment sales or property disposal, for example) published and scrutinised?
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The defence sector is not primarily a revenue-generating institution in Nigeria, but the Nigerian military has struggled over the years to develop a robust…
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Beyond central budget allocations, the Nigerian military generates revenue through quasi-commercial activities, such as rental of military infrastructure (e.g., the Nigerian Army Jetty in…
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Defence and security institutions in Nigeria invest on several revenue-generating commercial interests especially in real estate, hospitality, health centres, and education [1]. Despite the…
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16
25/100
Is there an effective internal audit process for defence ministry expenditure (that is, for example, transparent, conducted by appropriately skilled individuals, and subject to parliamentary oversight)?
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The Directorate of Finance and Administration is responsible for internal audits at the Ministry of Defence. Audits cover records of revenues and expenditure, cash…
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Concerning the internal audit process, the Ministry of Defence has an Internal Audit Department with the responsibility of inspecting and monitoring the use of…
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The auditor general’s report is in most instances released late. For example, the auditor general’s report for 2020 was submitted to the National Assembly…
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External audits conducted by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAuGF) are submitted to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). While these reports…
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17
25/100
Is there effective and transparent external auditing of military defence expenditure?
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The Nigerian constitution grants the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAuGF) the mandate to audit public accounts, ministries, departments, agencies, and commissions [1]. This includes…
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External audits of the MoD are performed by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, which submits its reports directly to the Public…
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External auditing of MDAs is not conducted in a timely and regular manner. Although the eventual reports are published online, they are not made…
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When audit reports are not completed timely and made publicly available, performance monitoring is encumbered and implementation of suggested changes hindered. With this practice,…
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18
35/100
Is there evidence that the country’s defence institutions have controlling or financial interests in businesses associated with the country’s natural resource exploitation and, if so, are these interests publicly stated and subject to scrutiny?
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Section 16(3) of the 1999 Constitution mandates a national body to review ownership and control of enterprises, including those tied to natural resources, and report…
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Defence institutions involvement in businesses relating to the country’s natural resource exploitation is widespread and mostly illicit. The nation’s defence and security forces have…
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Illicit transactions on crude oil, fishing in the waters of Lake Chad, and illegal mining of gold are the common areas with major revenue…
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The legal and regulatory framework does not make it possible for military officials or institutions to have a direct interest in the extractive sector.…
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When allegations of the involvement of miliary officers in businesses associated with the country’s natural resource are reported, these interests are often subjected to…
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19
25/100
Is there evidence, for example through media investigations or prosecution reports, of a penetration of organised crime into the defence and security sector? If no, is there evidence that the government is alert and prepared for this risk?
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There are some media reports indicating a degree of connivance, complicity and collusion of defence and security personnel in organised crime. For instance, a…
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The government is aware of the complicity of some military men with organised crime groups, and it is taking some action to curb the…
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20
42/100
Is there policing to investigate corruption and organised crime within the defence services and is there evidence of the effectiveness of this policing?
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There are systems and structures in place to deal with the infiltration of organised crime and corruption within the defence and security sector. Within…
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These policing functions are subject to considerable and regular undue influence from top military officials or the executive. In August 2019. Mr Hamisu Bala,…
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In some instances, cases are investigated or prosecuted through formal processes. However, undue political influence is attempted which sometimes could prove effective at derailing…
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21
25/100
Are the policies, administration, and budgets of the intelligence services subject to effective and independent oversight?
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The intelligence services are subject to effective oversight through the Senate and House Committees on National Security and Intelligence [1]. They are mandated to…
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Intelligence agencies by design are secretive in nature and tasked with gathering information to bolster national security. Given this, their operations are including resources…
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22
17/100
Are senior positions within the intelligence services filled on the basis of objective selection criteria, and are appointees subject to investigation of their suitability and prior conduct?
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Recruitment and promotion in Nigeria’s public service are in principle guided by the Federal character principle. Federal Character Commission (FCC) has the responsibility of…
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Although the National Assembly has a residual power to vet and confirm appointments, this does not constitute effective checks and balances on the exercise…
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Security vetting in Nigeria is formally conducted by agencies such as the State Security Service (SSS) and the Department of State Services (DSS), intended…
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23
75/100
Does the government have a well-scrutinised process for arms export decisions that aligns with Articles 7.1.iv, 11.5, and 15.6 of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)?
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Nigeria signed and ratified the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) on August 12, 2013 [1]. In 2016, Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence stated that “Nigeria believes…
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Although Nigeria signed and ratified the ATT in August 2013, it has not fully succeeded in domesticating it [1]. As noted by a military…
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Nigeria is primarily an importer and not an exporter of arms [1]. Nigeria imported $17.6M in military weapons in 2022, becoming the 24th largest…
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Nigeria has no framework for regulating lobbying activity. Given that some firms have emerged in recent times to engaging in lobbying activities, public analysts…
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Nigeria has no framework for regulating lobbying activity. Therefore, this indicator has been marked Not Applicable. [1]
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Nigeria has no framework for regulating lobbying activity. Therefore, this indicator has been marked Not Applicable. [1]
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Nigeria has no framework for regulating lobbying activity. Therefore, this indicator has been marked Not Applicable. [1]
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Defence and Security Policy and Policy Transparency
Q1
NA/100
Is there formal provision for effective and independent legislative scrutiny of defence policy?
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Q2
NA/100
Does the country have an identifiable and effective parliamentary defence and security committee (or similar such organisations) to exercise oversight?
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Q3
NA/100
Is the country’s national defence policy or national security strategy debated and publicly available?
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Q4
NA/100
Do defence and security institutions have a policy, or evidence, of openness towards civil society organisations (CSOs) when dealing with issues of corruption?
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Q5
NA/100
Has the country signed up to the following international anti-corruption instruments: UNCAC and the OECD Convention?
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Q6
NA/100
Is there evidence of regular, active public debate on issues of defence? If yes, does the government participate in this debate?
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Q7
NA/100
Does the country have an openly stated and effectively implemented anti-corruption policy for the defence sector?
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Q8
NA/100
Are there independent, well-resourced, and effective institutions within defence and security tasked with building integrity and countering corruption?
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Q9
NA/100
Does the public trust the institutions of defence and security to tackle the issue of bribery and corruption in their establishments?
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Q10
NA/100
Are there regular assessments of the areas of greatest corruption risk for ministry and armed forces personnel, and are the findings used as inputs to the anti-corruption policy?
View QuestionDefence Budgets
Q11
NA/100
Does the country have a process for acquisition planning that involves clear oversight, and is it publicly available?
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Q12
NA/100
Is the defence budget transparent, showing key items of expenditure? And it is provided to the legislature in a timely fashion?
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Q13
NA/100
Is there a legislative committee (or other appropriate body) responsible for defence budget scrutiny and analysis in an effective way?
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Q14
NA/100
Is the approved defence budget made publicly available? In practice, can citizens, civil society, and the media obtain detailed information on the defence budget?
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Q15
NA/100
Are sources of defence income other than from central government allocation (from equipment sales or property disposal, for example) published and scrutinised?
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Q16
NA/100
Is there an effective internal audit process for defence ministry expenditure (that is, for example, transparent, conducted by appropriately skilled individuals, and subject to parliamentary oversight)?
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Q17
NA/100
Is there effective and transparent external auditing of military defence expenditure?
View QuestionNexus of Defence and National Assets
Q18
NA/100
Is there evidence that the country’s defence institutions have controlling or financial interests in businesses associated with the country’s natural resource exploitation and, if so, are these interests publicly stated and subject to scrutiny?
View QuestionOrganised Crime
Q19
NA/100
Is there evidence, for example through media investigations or prosecution reports, of a penetration of organised crime into the defence and security sector? If no, is there evidence that the government is alert and prepared for this risk?
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Q20
NA/100
Is there policing to investigate corruption and organised crime within the defence services and is there evidence of the effectiveness of this policing?
View QuestionControl of Intelligence Services
Q21
NA/100
Are the policies, administration, and budgets of the intelligence services subject to effective and independent oversight?
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Q22
NA/100
Are senior positions within the intelligence services filled on the basis of objective selection criteria, and are appointees subject to investigation of their suitability and prior conduct?
View QuestionExport Controls
Q23
NA/100