Nigeria cannot depend on punishment alone to defeat entrenched corruption, the country’s anti-graft chief warned on Monday, stressing the need for stronger institutions, asset recovery and coordinated regional action.
“Global experience and our laws show that punishment alone is not enough,” said Musa Aliyu, chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Aliyu spoke in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, at a one-day roundtable with attorneys-general from the North East. The gathering was part of a nationwide series of consultations to build a united front against corruption.
He described corruption as “one of the most stubborn challenges of our time,” blaming it for weakening Nigeria’s economy, fuelling insecurity and eroding public trust in government institutions.
“We must recover stolen assets, restore justice to victims, strengthen our systems and, above all, work together across institutions and regions,” Aliyu told participants.
The ICPC chairman recalled that the first such roundtable was held in Abuja in September 2024, with subsequent meetings across the country’s six geopolitical zones, including Kano, Asaba, Ilorin and Enugu. The Maiduguri session marked the North East’s turn.
Aliyu commended the Borno State judiciary for spearheading reforms under its chief judge, saying such measures offered a model for other regions. “Here in the North East, we know how deeply corruption and weak institutions can worsen insecurity and poverty. Yet we also know the power of reform,” he said.
The event, themed “Institutional Integrity and Regional Cooperation: The Role of Attorneys-General in Advancing a Corruption-Free North-East”, drew key figures including senators, members of the National Assembly’s anti-corruption committee, state attorneys-general and ICPC resident commissioners.
Aliyu said the discussions were a call to action for regional leaders to strengthen judicial systems and collaborate against graft. “The world today speaks with one voice against corruption, and Nigeria must not be left behind,” he added.
