The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has joined the global community in commemorating the 2025 International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD), warning that Nigeria’s longstanding fight against corruption must urgently address a rapidly expanding digital dimension.
In a statement marking the day, themed “United Against Corruption for Development, Peace, and Security,” CITAD reaffirmed that corruption remains “one of the most significant threats to Nigeria’s development and democratic stability.”
According to the Executive Director, Yunusa Zakari Ya’u, the effects of corruption continue to cut deeply across the country’s political and social landscape.
“Corruption weakens public institutions, undermines service delivery, fuels insecurity, and erodes citizens’ trust in governance. Despite the efforts of government and civil society, the persistence of corruption demands stronger systemic reforms,” he said.
CITAD expressed growing alarm over what it described as a new wave of corruption emerging within Nigeria’s digital systems. These risks include opaque data governance practices, misuse of surveillance tools, political manipulation of cybercrime laws, and poor oversight of public digital infrastructure.
“As Nigeria deepens its digital transformation, embedding accountability in the digital ecosystem is no longer optional; it is essential,” Ya’u warned. He stressed that anti-corruption efforts must now cover both offline and online spaces where weak regulation enables new forms of abuse.
The organisation also condemned what it described as the increasing misuse of state power to intimidate citizens expressing governance-related concerns through digital platforms.
“Digital channels remain the most affordable platforms for citizens to express themselves,” CITAD said, urging authorities to protect online civic spaces rather than suppress them.