By Damilola Samuel
Nigeria’s efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 are being undermined by weak institutional enforcement, insecurity and declining public confidence in key democratic institutions, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has said.
The organisation made the assessment in its 9th Nigeria SDG 16 Shadow Report, covering developments between July 2025 and August 2026.
SDG 16 focuses on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, access to justice and the development of effective, accountable and inclusive institutions.
Presenting the report at a United Nations General Assembly side event in New York, CISLAC Executive Director and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Awual Rafsanjani, said the findings showed that Nigeria had made some progress but continued to struggle with implementation.
He said measures relating to illicit financial flows, asset recovery and anti-money laundering represented notable institutional and enforcement developments.
However, Rafsanjani said such steps had yet to produce corresponding improvements in areas including transparency, access to information, public confidence and the broader legal framework.
“Our findings point to persistent governance challenges. While Nigeria has made legislative and policy advances, implementation and enforcement remain weak, inconsistent and, in some cases, undermined by political interference,” he said.
According to the report, the effectiveness of institutions established to protect public interests remains a major concern, particularly where political influence affects their independence and accountability.
CISLAC also raised questions about public officials’ asset declarations and unexplained wealth, arguing that weaknesses in these areas can make it difficult to establish how public resources are being managed.
The organisation further drew attention to the handling of recovered assets, saying the recovery of illicitly acquired property must be accompanied by transparent tracking and disclosure of what happens to those assets after recovery.
“We also continue to witness asset recoveries without sufficient transparency about the process and, importantly, what happens to recovered assets afterwards,” Rafsanjani said.
He warned that without effective monitoring and public accountability, recovered assets could become vulnerable to mismanagement, potentially allowing the same cycle of corruption to continue.
The report also examined the condition of institutions central to Nigeria’s democratic system, including the judiciary, security institutions and electoral bodies.
Rafsanjani said public confidence in these institutions remained under pressure, while allegations involving senior judicial figures, concerns over electoral processes and weaknesses in the screening of political appointees highlighted the need for stronger institutional safeguards.
“The erosion of institutional integrity is equally concerning,” he said.
Beyond governance and accountability, the report identified insecurity as a significant obstacle to achieving SDG 16, with the growing commercialisation of kidnapping for ransom singled out as a particular concern.
CISLAC said persistent kidnapping extends beyond the immediate threat to lives and property, arguing that it also affects economic activity, human rights, governance and confidence in the rule of law.
With the 2030 deadline for achieving the SDGs drawing closer, the organisation said Nigeria’s challenge was increasingly about making existing laws, policies and institutions work effectively rather than simply creating new ones.
The report therefore called for stronger institutions, improved transparency, greater protection of civic space, better access to information and stronger safeguards for public resources.
It also urged more consistent enforcement of the rule of law and called on government, civil society, development partners and the international community to translate commitments on SDG 16 into measurable action.
According to CISLAC, progress towards sustainable development will ultimately depend on institutions capable of delivering justice, accountability and public services in the interest of citizens.
