The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has declared that transparency is not optional but the bedrock of Nigeria’s sustainable development, warning that opaque systems continue to drain the nation’s economic potential.
Aliyu made the assertion while delivering a keynote address at the Anti-Corruption Day event, part of activities marking the 35th anniversary of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Speaking through ICPC’s Director of Public Education, Mr. Demola Bakare, fsi, the anti-graft chief stressed that transparency has evolved from an externally driven reform agenda to a pressing domestic necessity for national survival and growth.
In his presentation titled “Transparency and Development: The Nigerian Experience,” Aliyu said countries that institutionalise open governance, access to information, and strict accountability frameworks are those that achieve enduring prosperity.
“Our historical experience shows that weak transparency in governance and corporate practices has provided fertile ground for corruption, tax evasion, and illicit financial flows,” he said. “These practices have systematically undermined our institutions and slowed development, demonstrating that our failures often stem from opaque systems—not a lack of resources.”
The ICPC boss highlighted the pivotal role of the CAC in strengthening Nigeria’s integrity architecture, noting that its regulation of corporate entities directly shapes investor confidence and the country’s global business image.
He commended the Commission’s reforms, particularly the digitisation of business registration processes and advances in beneficial ownership disclosure, describing them as transformative steps capable of curbing financial crimes and boosting accountability.
Aliyu, however, warned that legislation alone cannot win the anti-corruption war.
“The true effectiveness of transparency laws depends on implementation, enforcement, and an institutional culture that supports openness,” he said, calling for stronger inter-agency collaboration, wider use of open data in policymaking, and active participation from citizens and the private sector.
Echoing the call for synergy, CAC Registrar-General/CEO, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, described the anti-corruption fight as a shared national responsibility requiring seamless coordination among institutions.
“No agency can succeed in isolation. We must deepen information sharing and undertake joint investigations to ensure our collective efforts translate into measurable outcomes for Nigeria,” Magaji said, reaffirming CAC’s commitment to supporting anti-corruption bodies.
The event drew key stakeholders from governance and integrity institutions and featured a panel session on strengthening Nigeria’s national integrity system.
In recognition of its role in promoting accountability, the CAC presented the ICPC with an award for its “significant contributions to transparency, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria.”
