The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has disclosed that it tracked about 950 projects valued at approximately ₦415.25 billion across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as part of efforts to strengthen accountability in public spending.

The chairman of the commission, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, made this known on Thursday in Abuja during a workshop organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Aliyu said the projects were monitored under the constituency and Executive Projects tracking Initiative (CEPTI), a preventive mechanism aimed at ensuring that public funds translate into tangible benefits for citizens.

He further revealed that projects under the Federal Ministry of Works valued at over ₦21.23 trillion were also tracked, highlighting the scale of the Commission’s oversight responsibilities.

According to him, the initiative has led to the identification of abandoned and underperforming projects, compelled contractors to return to sites, and enhanced accountability in service delivery.

The ICPC chairman emphasised that prevention remains the most effective strategy in combating corruption, noting that project tracking serves as a critical tool in deterring misuse of public resources.

He also called for stronger collaboration between the Commission and the media, describing journalists as key stakeholders in promoting transparency and holding public officials accountable.

Aliyu noted that the workshop, themed “Reinvigorating the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2022–2026): A Post-Assessment Roadmap for the Fourth Estate,” was designed to generate practical ideas and strengthen partnerships in the anti-corruption drive.

In a goodwill message, chairman of the senate committee on anti-corruption and financial crimes, Senator Emmanuel Udende, described corruption as a major impediment to national development, warning that it erodes trust, weakens institutions, and deprives citizens of essential services.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to strengthening legislative frameworks and oversight functions to support transparency and good governance.

Other speakers, as 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, stressed the need for sustained collaboration among institutions, the media, and citizens to build a culture of integrity and accountability in the country.

They reaffirmed the media’s critical role in preventing corruption, describing it as a powerful tool for civic education and public sensitisation.

Dembos noted that leveraging the media would significantly enhance public enlightenment efforts, enabling citizens to better understand and resist corrupt practices while supporting institutional accountability.

On his part, the President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ),  Dr  Kole Shettima described the forum as a critical step toward confronting one of Nigeria’s most persistent challenges and advancing transparency in governance.

He noted that corruption continues to undermine national development by weakening institutions and eroding public trust, stressing that addressing the problem requires collective responsibility and sustained cross-sector cooperation.

He called for a shift beyond rhetoric to measurable cooperation that fosters a culture of integrity and restores public confidence, expressing optimism that sustained partnership between the media and anti-corruption agencies would strengthen systems that deter corruption and promote good governance.

The workshop was officially opened by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, represented by the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Baba-Ndace, who urged journalists to uphold and enhance professionalism in the course of their duties