Lessons from Implementing the APRM National Programme of Action in Nigeria

The document analyzes Nigeria's experience with the APRM, highlighting that while the peer review process is a valuable diagnostic tool, the subsequent implementation of the National Programme of Action (NPoA) faces severe hurdles. In Nigeria, these include poor monitoring and evaluation, limited technical capacity, funding constraints, and a lack of legal standing for NEPAD Nigeria. The brief also notes a decline in civil society engagement due to mistrust and lack of donor funding, concluding that success requires strong political will, better communication, and the integration of the NPoA into national development strategies.

• The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) serves as a diagnostic tool for promoting good governance and sustainable development across Africa, focusing on democracy, political governance, economic governance, corporate governance, and socio-economic development.
• Nigeria's National Programme of Action (NPoA) for 2009–2012 was highly ambitious and complex, with an estimated cost of $20 billion, yet the country has failed to meet its NPoA promises.
• Implementation of the NPoA in Nigeria is hindered by structural and technical deficits, including limited manpower, poor organization of national structures, and the lack of an enabling law to grant NEPAD Nigeria legal standing as a commission.
• Political instability and a lack of consistent leadership commitment have weakened the process; specifically, successors to President Obasanjo have shown less interest in regional and continental affairs.
• Civil society engagement in Nigeria has declined from active participation during the initial review to being practically non-existent during implementation, driven by mistrust of the government and a lack of international donor funding for monitoring.
• Effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is identified as a critical failure in Nigeria and across most member countries, making it impossible to accurately assess the success or impact of the APRM.

APA

Khalil-Babatunde, M. (2014). Lessons from Implementing the APRM National Programme of Action in Nigeria. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Policy-Briefing-120.pdf

Chicago

Khalil-Babatunde, Mouzayian. Lessons from Implementing the APRM National Programme of Action in Nigeria. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2014. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Policy-Briefing-120.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Khalil-Babatunde |first1=Mouzayian |title=Lessons from Implementing the APRM National Programme of Action in Nigeria |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=December 2014 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Policy-Briefing-120.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{khalilbabatunde2014lessons, author = {Khalil-Babatunde, Mouzayian}, title = {{Lessons from Implementing the APRM National Programme of Action in Nigeria}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2014}, month = dec, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Policy-Briefing-120.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }