COMMUNITIES
CIVIC ACTION TEAMS
At Accountability Lab Nigeria, our Civic Action Teams (CivActs) are at the heart of our work to strengthen citizen participation, rebuild trust in governance, and ensure that accountability translates into tangible improvements in communities. These citizen-led networks serve as bridges between communities and government, using information, dialogue, and collaboration to close feedback loops and turn civic participation into change. Through the CivActs, we continue to inspire local action by supporting citizens to track government projects, challenge the lack of transparency and amplify voices of communities.
Our work on Procurement Integrity reflects a commitment to address one of the most persistent governance challenges in Nigeria; corruption and inefficiency in public procurement. Research has shown that procurement processes in the country are undermined by contract inflation, bribery, and weak oversight, eroding trust and compromising public service delivery. Although the Public Procurement Act of 2007 was designed to improve transparency and ensure value for money, its poor implementation continues to allow abuses that deprive citizens of quality public services. Through the CivActs, we are changing that reality. We work with citizens, journalists, civil society, and government officials to strengthen procurement integrity by opening up processes, advocating for inclusive reforms, and leveraging technology to make procurement data transparent and accessible. Our approach centers on collaboration, bringing everyone to the table to rethink how public resources can best serve the public good. By amplifying citizen voices and promoting behavioral change among procurement actors, we are building systems that reflect fairness, openness, and efficiency.
In the Niger Delta region, our Environmental Justice work under CivActs takes this same accountability message into the extractive sector, where communities have long borne the brunt of pollution, environmental degradation, and neglect. Across nine communities in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Delta States, we are supporting citizens with the tools and knowledge to understand the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the Host Community Development Trust Fund, supporting them to ensure that natural resource governance works for the people. These communities are learning to use data, storytelling, and collective advocacy to demand transparency in how environmental funds are managed and how remediation projects are executed. Our efforts have sparked conversations around fairness in resource distribution and strengthened community participation in environmental decision-making.
Through these interventions, Accountability Lab Nigeria is building a new model of civic engagement, one rooted in partnership, trust, and impact. Our CivActs have become proof that when citizens are supported with the right information and the right platforms, they can drive accountability from the ground up.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
IMPACT TO DATE
In Rivers State, we supported the Egi community to hold Total Energies accountable under the Host Community Development Trust Fund (HCDTF) regulation. With training on the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, CJT members like Precious Ibegwura led advocacy that exposed non-compliance and demanded inclusion in decision-making. As a result, Total Energies complied with regulations, reconstituted the Board of Trustees with community input, and initiated peace talks with stakeholders.
Through the CivActs, the Ibeno community in Akwa-Ibom State gained the knowledge and confidence to demand environmental accountability from ExxonMobil. Martins Asukpa and other Community Justice Team (CJT) members, led advocacy efforts that compelled ExxonMobil to acknowledge its environmental impact. The company initiated waste management and remediation projects while awarding contracts to local contractors. This collaboration strengthened and reinforced community voices and inspired sustained advocacy for environmental justice.
In Edo State, the “Accountabilitea” radio show supported citizens to spotlight the poor state of primary healthcare. Their collective outcry prompted the Edo State Government to commit to strengthening primary healthcare services under its SHINE agenda. Similarly, citizen feedback on the show in Ekiti State led to government action to restore electricity in Housing Road through a new transformer project. These outcomes demonstrate the power of informed citizens to drive responsive governance and improved public services. Through ongoing radio advocacy, AL Nigeria continues to amplify citizen voices and promote accountability across states.
Before AL Nigeria’s intervention, the Utagba Ogbe community hesitated to adopt the HCDTF due to misinformation and fear of dismantling an existing structure that benefited a few of them. Through trainings, a CJT member, Stephen Okunima educated other community members on the benefits of the PIA and HCDTF, bridging deep-rooted divides. This knowledge led to widespread acceptance, and AGIP oil responded by establishing the Trust and inaugurating a community-nominated Board of Trustees.
To address Nigeria’s limited access to procurement information, Accountability Lab Nigeria developed an AI-integrated platform that simplifies complex public procurement data in Edo, Ekiti, and Plateau States. The platform automatically organizes and visualizes procurement records, supporting citizens, journalists, and civil servants track contracts and monitor spending in real time. It is transforming how public data is accessed, making it simple, intuitive, and inclusive. Procurement officers now use it to streamline processes and uphold integrity in governance.
In Ekiti State, citizens’ voices through the ‘Accountabilitea’ radio show turned despair into hope. After Ireti, a concerned resident, raised alarm over the collapsed Illawe road drainage project that caused numerous accidents, her call and complaints on the show drew government attention to the issue. Within a few weeks, work resumed, and by July 2025, the road was fully restored, bringing safety and relief to the community.
Through its “Accountabilitea” radio show, Accountability Lab Nigeria is supporting citizens to understand and protect their digital rights across states like Kaduna, Abuja, Nasarawa, Kano, Benue, and Plateau. The program created a safe space for everyday people to share experiences and learn how to safeguard their data online. Listeners are now taking proactive steps, from securing personal information to using the Ripoti platform to report violations. This growing awareness is transforming passive internet users into active defenders of their digital freedom.