West African Anti-Graft Agencies Adopt Abuja Declaration, Seek Greater Independence
The Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) has adopted the Abuja Leadership Declaration, reaffirming its commitment to institutional independence, stronger regional cooperation, and the responsible use of technology in combating corruption across West Africa.
The declaration was adopted on Wednesday at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja at the conclusion of the two-day NACIWA Mid-Year Leadership Conference 2026, themed “Transformational Leadership for Effective Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa.”
The motion for its adoption was moved by NACIWA President and Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, and was unanimously endorsed by the heads of anti-corruption institutions from the network’s 14 member countries.
Under the declaration, member institutions pledged to uphold operational independence, integrity, and accountability while resisting undue political and external interference in the fight against corruption. They also recognised transformational leadership as a critical factor in improving the effectiveness of anti-corruption agencies across the region.
The declaration noted that West Africa faces increasingly sophisticated corruption challenges, including transnational financial crimes, technology-enabled criminal activities, kleptocratic networks, and declining public trust in institutions.
To address these challenges, member institutions committed to strengthening leadership capacity, promoting ethical organisational cultures, and enhancing professionalism, innovation, and continuous learning within their agencies.
The conference also resolved to accelerate the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence and other digital technologies to improve intelligence-led investigations, law enforcement, and institutional management. However, participants stressed that such technologies must be deployed in line with sound governance principles, robust data protection standards, and ethical safeguards.
On regional collaboration, the institutions pledged to strengthen cross-border cooperation in preventing, investigating, and prosecuting transnational corruption. They also committed to improving collaboration on asset tracing, recovery, management, and the return of stolen assets, in line with ECOWAS guidelines.
The Abuja Leadership Declaration further encourages member institutions to develop organisation-specific action plans with clear priorities, measurable targets, and expected outcomes. Progress reports are to be submitted to the NACIWA Secretariat by October 2026.
In addition, NACIWA resolved to make leadership development a permanent pillar of its programmes and institutionalise the Leadership Conference as a regular event on its calendar to promote peer learning, accountability, and continuous institutional improvement.
Reaffirming regional solidarity, heads of anti-corruption institutions from Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone West African countries pledged to work collectively to strengthen national institutions, intensify the fight against corruption, and promote integrity, accountability, and good governance across the region.
The Abuja Leadership Declaration was the outcome of the two-day conference held from July 21 to 22, 2026, and was signed by representatives of all 14 NACIWA member institutions.
