A United Nations official warned that corruption and organized crime drive violence and terrorism in Nigeria as he introduced a five-year plan to bolster the nation’s criminal justice system, rule of law and judicial access.
Cheikh Toure, Nigeria’s country representative for the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), addressed journalists at the launch of the UNODC Nigeria Country Programme 2026-2030 on March 24, 2026, in Abuja.
“Criminal networks are becoming more sophisticated. Technology is reshaping both opportunities and risks, and globally, we are witnessing shifts in how illicit activities are financed,” Toure told journalists, according to the state-owned News Agency of Nigeria. “While Nigeria remains a country of immense potential and regional influence, it continues to grapple with complex and interconnected challenges. This includes drug trafficking, organised crime, corruption, terrorism and emerging technology-driven threats.”
Nigeria has battled corruption, crime and terrorism for years. In the Global Terrorism Index 2026, Nigeria ranks fourth-most affected by terrorism out of 163 nations listed. Only Pakistan, Burkina Faso and Niger ranked higher. Nigeria’s ranking is two spots higher than the previous year.
The index shows that Nigeria saw the largest increase in deaths from 2024 to 2025 with 237, for a total of 750, a 46.2% increase. The 171 recorded terrorism incidents also injured 243 people. Nigeria’s Borno State was the site of 2025’s 10th-deadliest terror attack in the world. Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists killed 63 in an assault on the village of Darajamal on May 9, 2025, the index states.
“The increase in terrorist activity comes amidst a surge in both ideological and criminal violence in the country,” the index states, noting that ISWAP and Boko Haram were responsible for 82.8% of Nigeria’s 2025 terrorism deaths.
In the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, the most recent available, Nigeria ranks 142 out of 182 nations and territories profiled. It scored 26 out of 100, with lower scores indicating higher rates of corruption. The report relies on 10 data points, including bribery, diversion of public funds, officials using their status for private gain, nepotism and state capture “by narrow vested interests.”
The $57 million UNODC country plan is intended to deal with issues like this. It will run through December 31, 2030, and address five thematic areas:
- Enhance crime prevention, criminal justice and access to justice.
- Prevent and combat corruption and illicit financial flows to protect people, institutions and the economy.
- Improve security, counterterrorism and address violent extremism that is conducive to terrorism.
- Combat organized crime through law enforcement.
- Strengthen evidence-based responses to drug production, trafficking, and nonmedical use, while addressing health challenges.
The program is designed to provide strategic direction while maintaining flexibility to adapt as circumstances change.
Toure also disclosed plans to establish a West Africa Knowledge Resource Centre to provide data and insights across the thematic areas. The center will serve as a regional think tank and bring together researchers, policymakers, security experts, civil society officials and journalists to collaborate and share knowledge on tackling crime, drugs and terrorism, News Agency of Nigeria reported.