The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has prevented the theft of N1.6 billion in public funds through the deployment of advanced technological tools.
ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), made this known during a recent courtesy visit by the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Khalil Halilu.
Although the specific ministry or government agency involved in the attempted diversion was not disclosed, Dr. Aliyu emphasized that the interception was a recent achievement, underscoring the critical role of technology in curbing corruption in Nigeria.
“We cannot fight corruption without being smart,” Aliyu stated.
“Yes, technology is being used to commit fraud, but we are also leveraging technology to combat it. The use of tech tools enabled us to stop N1.6 billion from being stolen.”
He highlighted that a significant percentage of corruption—between 70 to 80 percent—occurs during procurement processes. Therefore, he proposed stronger collaboration with NASENI to develop tailored technological solutions that can track public funds, monitor procurement activities, and improve transparency.
“One of our priorities should be tracking public funds and procurement processes. Another is building a secure whistleblower platform because information is key in fighting corruption,” he added.
Aliyu suggested the creation of a Joint Innovation Task Team between ICPC and NASENI to identify critical areas of collaboration and maintain long-term cooperation.
In response, NASENI’s CEO, Khalil Halilu, expressed his agency’s readiness to partner with the anti-corruption body. He assured that NASENI would provide technical support and share its expertise in digitalizing internal processes to boost efficiency and reduce risks such as data breaches.
“We are ready to work with the ICPC and contribute our technical know-how to develop solutions that will enhance accountability in governance,” Halilu said.
Aliyu also pledged the Commission’s support for strengthening NASENI’s internal Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit, reiterating ICPC’s commitment to promoting reforms across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
