The most common form of corruption that exists is bribery, and fresh statistics released indicate that an estimated amount of about 721 billion naira ($1.26 billion) at the average exchange rate during this research period were paid as bribe. This was majorly in cash bribes last year, 2023. The estimated amount reveals that this accounts for about 0.35% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
As of the year 2019, it was estimated that about N117 million was under review, compared to this current year which is about N87 million. This was at a ratio of 0.8 bribes per adult.
The data of the results were as follows:
“In 2023, 5.1 bribes were paid on average by each bribe-payer in Nigeria in the 12 months before the survey. This represents a modest and statistically insignificant decrease in the frequency of bribe-paying from 2019 when on average 5.4 bribes were paid by each bribe-payer.”
“The frequency of bribery is, on average, higher in rural areas than in urban areas. In 2023, bribe-payers living in urban areas paid an average of 4.5 bribes, while those living in rural areas paid an average of 5.8 bribes,” the statistics agency said in the report published on its website Thursday.
Some might consider bribery a minor problem, but as the saying goes, “little drops of water make a mighty ocean.” Now, the problem is that corruption was ranked as a major problem affecting the country in 2023, alongside other factors such as insecurity and unemployment.
Bribery was considered to be the most consistent problem among:
– Prosecutors
– Customs and immigration officers
– Land registers
Although the report also stated that judges and magistrates also received the largest kickbacks and reports.
Most of the bribes paid in 2023 were in cash, leaving little or no room for a paper trail, while a small portion was paid through bank transfers. Compared to 2019, over 700 billion were paid by citizens to public officials in 2023.
In the year 2023, a little over an estimated rate of 68.7% of people who were asked to pay bribes refused to, with a large chunk of those who refused to pay coming from the north-west, accounting for 75%.
According to the report, it stated clearly that some factors which might have led to this included the cost of living crisis and the fuel removal subsidy, which have emboldened about 23% of Nigerians to pay bribes.
Although there might have been some improvement, the Nigerian government still needs to work hand in hand to ensure that corruption is eliminated to its minimal form. This can be done by prioritizing corruption prevention control methods and sensitization of officials.
