A civil society group, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, has demanded a total overhaul of Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts and the strengthening of institutions such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and the Nigerian judiciary, from all forms of undue interference.

In a statement on Wednesday, the CACOL’s chairman, Debo Adeniran, expressed concern over the realities confronting Nigeria.

It decried how Nigeria has remained plagued by squandered opportunities, stunted growth, and unfulfilled potential, attributed to corruption and misrule.

The group described corruption as a cancer and the major debacle to Nigeria’s national development, noting that the greed of the ruling elite, since the discovery and mismanagement of crude oil proceeds in the 1970s, has robbed Nigerians of development, dignity, and prosperity.

“Nigeria at 65 must not continue to crawl when others are running. If we collectively confront corruption with seriousness, our nation can still rise to greatness and take its rightful place among the leading nations of the world,” CACOL stated.

“While other nations that attained independence around the same time, such as Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea, have transformed into global economic and technological powers, Nigeria remains trapped in underdevelopment.”

Lamenting the nation’s decline, the group stated that insecurity, poverty, unemployment, infrastructural decay, and high-level corruption scandals have become the dominant tragedies that characterize the country despite a pool of potential resources and wealth.

Denouncing the prevailing situation, the governance and anti-corruption group stated that Nigeria’s spate of insecurity is caused by “diversion of security funds and lack of political will to protect citizens”.

Poverty and unemployment, it noted, “have been worsened by leaders who plunder public coffers and stifle opportunities for young people”, while infrastructural decay, despite trillions budgeted for roads, hospitals, schools, power, and housing over the decades”, has also been a constant.

CACOL added, “An economy in crisis, where inflation and debt rise while wealth is concentrated in the hands of a corrupt few. High-level corruption scandals in virtually every administration – fuel subsidy fraud, pension scams, arms procurement fraud, COVID-19 palliatives diversion, and most recently the brazen looting within ministries and agencies.”

The anti-corruption group stated that the issue of true independence extends beyond lowering the colonial flag, but rather is about liberating citizens from oppression, deprivation, and corruption.

Stating its demands, the group advocated for a revamp of the anti-corruption fight, while urging the independence of the judiciary and critical agencies, such as EFCC and ICPC, from executive interference.

It also called for a full implementation of transparency and accountability mechanisms in public finance management, including open budgeting and proactive disclosure of government contracts.

The civic group called on concerned authorities to prosecute and punish corrupt officials, past and present, without fear or favour, as a deterrent against impunity. It urged the federal government to massively invest “recovered loot into critical infrastructure, education, healthcare, and job creation”.