Nigeria has recorded significant progress in tackling illicit financial flows, recovering assets and strengthening anti-money laundering enforcement, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) says.

CISLAC, however, said consolidating the gains would require stronger implementation, greater institutional independence and increased transparency in managing public resources.

Auwal Ibrahim Musa-Rafsanjani, CISLAC’s executive director and head of Transparency International Nigeria, said this at the launch of Nigeria’s ninth SDG 16 Shadow Report.

The report was unveiled on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“Nigeria has recorded important institutional and enforcement actions, particularly in the areas of illicit financial flows, asset recovery and anti-money laundering. These developments are significant,” Mr Rafsanjani said.

The report covers developments from July 2025 to August 2026 and independently assesses Nigeria’s progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 16. SDG 16 promotes peaceful and inclusive societies, access to justice and effective, accountable institutions.

Mr Rafsanjani said Nigeria had also recorded legislative and policy advances that could support stronger governance and accountability. He said those achievements showed the institutional foundations on which the country could accelerate reforms before the 2030 SDG deadline.

The CISLAC chief, however, said implementation remained the major challenge.

“While Nigeria has made legislative and policy advances, implementation and enforcement remain weak, inconsistent and, in some cases, undermined by political interference,” he said.

According to him, progress in asset recovery must now be accompanied by greater transparency over how recovered funds and properties are managed.

He called for effective post-recovery tracking to enable Nigerians to know what was recovered, where it was kept and how it was eventually utilised.

“Without effective post-recovery tracking and public accountability, recovered assets can become vulnerable to mismanagement and the cycle of corruption can be repeated,” he said.

Mr Rafsanjani also recommended stronger safeguards to protect public institutions from political capture and interference.

Institutions established to protect the public interest, he said, must operate independently, transparently and accountably. He called for improved asset declaration systems and stronger mechanisms to address unexplained wealth among public officials.

The report also identified the judiciary, security institutions and electoral bodies as requiring stronger institutional safeguards to reinforce public confidence.

Mr Rafsanjani said effective vetting of political appointees, transparent electoral processes and integrity within the justice system were essential to sustainable democratic governance. He also raised concern over Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly what he described as the growing commercialisation of kidnapping for ransom.

“This is not simply a security challenge. It has profound implications for governance, economic development, human rights and the rule of law,” he said.

According to him, insecurity affects agriculture, education, businesses, mobility and citizens’ confidence in public institutions.

“When citizens cannot live, work or travel without fear, the foundations of peaceful and inclusive societies are weakened,” Mr Rafsanjani said.

(NAN)