Featured

Certificate of Origin Issuance: Nigerians Alarmed Over Widespread Fraud

Published

2 years ago

July 27, 2023

… urge Govt to beam searchlight on corruption at subnational

Federal and state governments in Nigeria have been alerted following a spate of forgery cases and disregard of due process in certificate of origin issuance at Local Government Area (LGA) offices across the country.

The alarm was raised by the Executive Director, Partners West Africa-Nigeria, Kemi Okenyodo, during an anti-corruption radio programme, PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, produced by PRIMORG, Wednesday in Abuja.

Investigations published by TheCable recently exposed how officials at LGAs in Lagos, Ogun, Nasarawa states and Abuja jettison due process for bribes in issuing certificates of origin to the people.

Speaking during the radio programme, Okenyodo, who was not surprised at the absence of integrity in the local government system, noted that the development is a breeding ground for security and transparency challenges the country continues to grapple with.

She called on the government to beam the searchlight on corruption at LGAs and introduce reforms geared towards strengthening the anti-corruption fight at the subnational. She added that the government should devise means of better informing and sensitizing the people about the process of obtaining a certificate of origin to save the unsuspecting public from extortion.

“The duty of the government is to make obvious and put into the public space the process for getting certificates of origin, the cost and the duration.

“The information should be out there in a dialect that people would understand and in a form that is easy and accessible to them so that those who do not avail themselves of the information have the responsibility to get the information and follow through and know where to report what is wrong.

“The government should make things transparent. They should make the process for not only for a certificate of origin but other services at the local government level open and transparent.” She stated.

Okenyodo also urged the government to strengthen the National Identity Management Commission and leverage data from National Identification Number (NIN) in building a national data bank while calling on massive awareness of the citizens on the dangers of certificate forgery.

Speaking on the report, investigative and multimedia journalist at TheCable, Samad Uthman, lamented the lack of a proper national database while revealing that massive trading of certificates of origin and other documents for money was going on at local government offices across Nigeria.

Uthman revealed that applicants of certificate of origin in Kokona LGA, Nasarawa state, pay up to N10,000 to get the document without due process; At Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAc), applicants pay between N20,000 to N25,000 to obtain the same certificate at the council office without submitting necessary prerequisite documents, adding that the scenario is not different from their findings in Lagos and Ogun states.

He lamented that further research on the issuance of certificate of origin on Twitter shows that lack of due process is prevalent in every part of the country and could be worse at border towns in northern Nigeria.

“The investigation took place in Abuja, Nasarawa, Lagos and Ogun states. In Abuja, we visited AMAC and Bwari Area Council; in Nasarawa state, Kokona and Keffi LGAs; in Ogun, we visited Ife and Shagamu LGAs; while in Lagos, we went to Ikeja, Olumosho, Oshodi-Isolo LGAs and we realized that only in Ikeja that officials insisted on due process when it comes to issuing the certificates.

“We realized that the situation is prevalent in all parts of the country, especially the north and the southern part of the country; when the story was published, we received tons of evidence from the public, even when we had a Twitter space meeting on certificate issuance people spoke on it,” Uthman explained.

Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program PRIMORG uses to draw government and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.

The program has the support of the MacArthur Foundation.

Share on Facebook

Featured

Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

6 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

Share on Facebook