The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced the recovery of approximately ₦4 billion in funds misappropriated by public officials in the last 24 hours.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja during the one-day Hybrid Interactive Forum of the members of the National Anti-Corruption Coalition (NACC), ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Aliyu He said the nation was plagued by deep-rooted problems, particularly how public funds were spent.
The Chief Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has stressed the importance of investing money in technological solutions that can reduce problems associated with corruption, especially when purchasing goods and services for the public.
He further stated that the commission plans to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool in its efforts to combat corruption.
Aliyu said: “Today I want to highlight the potential of technological solutions to promote accountability and good governance.
“Technology can do wonders because it is not biased like humans. It can help us face challenges if we use it properly and effectively.
“This technology, as I mentioned, has the ability to address numerous problems.
“We know that there are digital platforms that sometimes, unfortunately, contribute to corruption.
“However, I can tell you that in the last 24 hours, we have been able to recover four billion naira of public funds, which were diverted to private accounts..”
The ICPC boss stressed how alarming it is to see how much money is being misappropriated and some individuals have billions of naira in their possession for personal gain.
“It is a shocking reality that people are hoarding public funds, instead of using them for the benefit of the nation.
“As a commission, we are using technology and management systems to restore confidence in the fight against corruption.
“We are committed to ensuring transparency in this effort. By implementing technology-driven processes, we can reduce practices such as contract bloat.
“Using technologies such as blockchain can help eliminate manipulation and ensure the integrity of public procurement.
”Data analysis is also crucial. The data we rely on is often outdated or inaccurate, leading to inefficiency. “By adopting AI, we can easily transform certain processes to be more transparent and effective.” Aliyu said.
He stressed the importance of implementing preventive strategies to combat corruption.
“That is why social integrity and capacity building are essential. Civic engagement and public education are key to ensuring that people understand their rights and responsibilities.
“When citizens are aware, they can hold public officials accountable. We must empower our people. Four or five years ago, we could have witnessed this transformation if we had started then.
“We need to ensure that the systems we build today stand the test of time and foster respect for human rights and dignity.
“We need to build a culture that discourages corruption and promotes ethical governance,” said the ICPC president.
He urged the National Assembly to prioritize the swift enactment of the Whistleblowing Act, emphasizing the importance of protecting whistleblowers in the battle against corruption.
The Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, Muhuyi Magji, He said that fighting corruption is a shared duty.
Magaji noted that when the community comes together to fight corruption, it becomes much easier to overcome this challenge.
“When people take charge of the fight against corruption, it will always be strengthened. It is not up to us, at the government level, to fight corruption alone.
“Everyone needs to get involved, it is a collective struggle, so the occasion itself is very important,” said.
For his part, the Interim Director of Public Enlightenment and Education of the ICPC, Demola Bakare, He urged the conference attendees to fight corruption rationally.
He encouraged them to thoroughly understand the legislation that created the commission, to ensure that they could carry out their functions efficiently.
Bakare said the battle against corruption was like a long-distance race, which required determination and endurance to achieve victory.
He assured the anti-corruption body of its commitment to all parties involved in the fight against corruption within the nation.
