Description

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, continues to grapple with complex economic and governance challenges. In recent years, the country has experienced economic recession, high unemployment, persistent inflation, and deteriorating infrastructure. These pressures have been compounded by widespread corruption, weak institutional capacity, and governance gaps that continue to undermine sustainable... Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, continues to grapple with complex economic and governance challenges. In recent years, the country has experienced economic recession, high unemployment, persistent inflation, and deteriorating infrastructure. These pressures have been compounded by widespread corruption, weak institutional capacity, and governance gaps that continue to undermine sustainable economic reform. Against this backdrop, Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) has worked with Nigerian partners to promote democratic governance and market-oriented reforms, with a particular focus on strengthening private-sector accountability and institutional resilience. CIPE’s engagement in Nigeria has centred on advancing state business agendas and improving governance structures within key sectors of the economy. In collaboration with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), CIPE has supported reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency, and ethical standards within the private sector, particularly in the maritime transport sector. The maritime transport sector is critical to Nigeria’s economic performance and integration into global markets. Nigeria’s ports serve as the primary gateway for international trade, with Lagos ports alone processing over 70 percent of the country’s non-oil exports. Recognising the sector’s strategic importance, CIPE and LCCI have worked through the Nigerian ports system to promote private-sector-led governance reforms. These efforts have included stakeholder training on collective advocacy, capacity building for industry actors, and the commissioning and publication of analytical reports on prevailing governance challenges within the sector. While private-sector reform is essential, it represents only one dimension of addressing Nigeria’s broader governance deficits. Public-sector corruption continues to pose a serious threat to economic recovery and institutional trust. Recent scandals involving the executive branch, civil service, and judiciary highlight systemic weaknesses on the ‘demand side’ of corruption. Financial institutions have also been implicated, having at times failed to adequately prevent or report illicit financial flows. The anti-corruption agenda of the Buhari administration, including the establishment of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), marked an important acknowledgement of the problem. However, these efforts have faced criticism for limited effectiveness, weak enforcement mechanisms, and an inability to address systemic illicit financial flows or strengthen legal and civil processes for accountability. In response, CIPE has partnered with the Coalition of Business and Professional Associations (COBPAs) and the Institute of Directors (IoD) to promote anti-corruption reforms driven from within the private sector. These initiatives aim to establish ethical standards, improve corporate governance practices, and create a scalable model for broader societal reform in Nigeria. Through strategic partnerships, policy advocacy, and institutional capacity building, CIPE and its Nigerian partners continue to work towards strengthening governance, reducing corruption, and fostering an environment conducive to inclusive and sustainable economic growth.