By Nkechi Eze
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, has showcased Nigeria’s technology-driven anti-corruption initiative, the Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI), at the 16th Regional Conference and Annual General Meeting of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa held in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
According to an official signed statement by the Head of Media and Public Communications, ICPC, J. Okor Odey, the conference was hosted by the National Anti-Corruption Commission of Cameroon in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat under the theme, “Deploying Artificial Intelligence in the Fight Against Corruption in Commonwealth Africa.”
Presenting Nigeria’s country paper on behalf of the ICPC Chairman, the Commission’s Head of External Cooperation, Mr Ahmed Abdul, described CEPTI as a proactive technology-based mechanism established to ensure transparency, accountability, and value for money in the execution of government-funded projects across Nigeria.
He explained that the initiative, supported by geospatial mapping technology, enables the Commission to conduct real-time monitoring, validation, and analysis of constituency and executive projects nationwide.
Ahmed disclosed that projects valued at over N22.9 trillion have been tracked under CEPTI since its inception, while recoveries from improperly executed projects have exceeded N4.9 billion.
He added that savings to the Federal Government from aborted, inflated, or re-scoped projects have surpassed N91.4 billion.
The ICPC Chairman further noted that the initiative has significantly curtailed corrupt practices associated with public infrastructure delivery, including contract inflation, diversion of public funds, ghost projects, and project abandonment.
Dr Aliyu stated that the deployment of Artificial Intelligence, data analytics, and geospatial technology has become critical in strengthening transparency and accountability in governance across Africa.
He urged anti-corruption agencies within Commonwealth Africa to institutionalise technology-driven project tracking frameworks and deepen collaboration in digital investigation, intelligence gathering, and data science.
At the end of the conference, Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies across Commonwealth Africa adopted far-reaching resolutions aimed at strengthening anti-corruption efforts through the deployment of Artificial Intelligence and other digital technologies.
In a communiqué issued after the conference, delegates resolved to promote digital transformation in public service delivery and encourage the adoption of strategic digital technologies to improve transparency in public procurement and public finance management.
The communiqué also stressed the need to strengthen policy frameworks for the recovery of stolen assets and enhance inter-agency cooperation across member states.
The agencies further agreed to build the capacity of anti-corruption personnel in the use of Artificial Intelligence for evidence gathering, investigation, and prosecution of corruption cases.
Delegates also resolved to empower young people with digital skills to promote integrity, transparency, and accountability across the continent.
The communiqué confirmed that the National Anti-Corruption Commission of Cameroon will serve as Chair of the Association of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa for the 2026–2027 period, while Kenya will host the 17th Regional Conference and Annual General Meeting in 2027.
