The Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) has adopted the Abuja Leadership Declaration, reaffirming the commitment of member countries to strengthen the fight against corruption through institutional independence, regional cooperation and improved leadership.
The declaration was adopted at the close of the two-day NACIWA Mid-Year Leadership Conference 2026, held at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja. The conference, which ended on July 22, was themed “Transformational Leadership for Effective Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa.”
The motion for the adoption of the declaration was moved by NACIWA President and Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, and was unanimously endorsed by heads of anti-corruption agencies from the organisation’s 14 member countries.
In the declaration, member institutions pledged to safeguard their operational independence and resist political or external interference in the discharge of their anti-corruption mandates. They also reaffirmed their commitment to promoting integrity, transparency and accountability within their respective organisations.
The declaration noted that West Africa continues to face increasingly complex corruption challenges driven by transnational financial crimes, technology-enabled offences, illicit financial flows and declining public confidence in institutions.
It identified effective leadership as a critical factor in strengthening anti-corruption agencies, stressing its role in driving reforms, shaping institutional culture, managing public confidence and motivating personnel.
The member institutions also committed to embracing artificial intelligence and other digital technologies to improve intelligence gathering, investigations, law enforcement operations and institutional management.
However, they agreed that the deployment of such technologies must be guided by strong governance frameworks, data protection standards and ethical safeguards tailored to each country’s legal and institutional environment.
As part of efforts to strengthen public confidence, the agencies pledged to reinforce internal systems that promote accountability, transparency and ethical conduct.
The declaration also emphasised the importance of continuous leadership and talent development, encouraging member institutions to invest in professional growth while promoting gender-responsive leadership and creating equal opportunities for women and other underrepresented groups.
On regional collaboration, the institutions resolved to deepen cooperation in investigating and prosecuting cross-border corruption cases, as well as improving collaboration on asset tracing, recovery, management and the return of stolen assets.
They also committed to implementing the ECOWAS Guidelines on Borderless Investigation, Asset Tracing, Recovery and Management within their respective jurisdictions.
Under the agreement, each member institution is expected to develop a tailored action plan based on the conference resolutions, with clearly defined priorities, measurable targets and expected outcomes. Progress reports are to be submitted to the NACIWA Secretariat by October 2026.
The declaration further established leadership development as a permanent strategic focus of NACIWA’s activities, supported by structured peer learning, follow-up mechanisms and accountability measures.
In addition, the NACIWA Secretariat was directed to make the Leadership Conference a recurring event on the organisation’s annual calendar.
Reaffirming their shared commitment, the heads of anti-corruption institutions from Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone countries across West Africa pledged to continue working together to strengthen national institutions, improve regional cooperation and promote integrity, accountability and good governance.
The Abuja Leadership Declaration was signed by representatives of all 14 NACIWA member institutions at the conclusion of the conference.
