‘Despite Fight, Corruption Still Thrives In Nigeria’ – NBS Says

FCT records highest number of reported corruption cases … officials directly request for bribe in 65.4% of cases
Despite fight, corruption still thrives in Nigeria, NBS says
By MICHEAL ANI on January 3, 2019
Corruption,
which Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said he came into office to
fight, is flourishing under his nose, with the Federal capital territory
recording the highest number of cases, according to data released by
the National Bureau of statistics, covering year 2016.
NBS data show
that corruption cases increased in about 15 states in the country, while
only about six and two states reported a decline and zero in the number
of corruption cases, respectively.

Abuja, the capital city of
the country where major political and administrative activities hold,
had the highest number with 657 reported cases in that year, according
to the report.
Abuja was followed by Lagos and Kaduna, with each
reporting over a 100 cases, according to a graphical representation by
the NBS, as the statistical agency did not provide exact numerical
values of corruption cases in other states besides

President
Buhari assumed office as president in May 2015 vowing to intensify
eliminate corruption and set Africa’s largest economy on a path of
sustainable development. His administration has since embarked on
prosecution of persons alleged to have looted public funds, using the
anti-corruption watchdog, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
It
may not be entirely true to assess President Buhari’s anti-corruption
fight of corruption based on the NBS data alone since the figures
reflect barely one year of his presidency. However, the 2017 Corruption
Perception Index released in 2018 by Transparency International, placed
Nigeria as number 148 among 180 countries, from 136 in 2016, showing a
retrogression of 12 places.

“The initial optimism that
accompanied the Buhari’s government following his anti-corruption agenda
appears to have waned and this is not unconnected to the observed delay
in prosecuting corrupt officials who are members of his parties,” an
analyst who does not want to be mentioned because of the sensitivity of
the matter, said.

The NBS report said that Adamawa, Edo, Enugu,
Rivers, Anambra and Imo states all recorded declines in corrupt cases,
while there were no cases recorded in both Jigawa and Yobe states.
The
report further shows that in terms of percentage distribution of bribes
in Nigeria by types of request, direct request from the officials came
top at 65.4 percent, while indirect request of payment by officials came
next at 19.9 percent.

Bribe request where nobody asked for it,
that is, a bribe request done willingly to facilitate/accelerate the
procedure, was next at 8.2 percent, the report said.
The report also
said that almost 70 percent of bribes were paid before service was
delivered, while 13.5 percent were paid after service was delivered.

The
percentage of bribes collected at the same time that the service was
delivered was 10 percent, while those who paid partly before/ after the
service was delivered were 2 percent.
Gbolahan Ologunro, an equity
research analyst at Lagos-based CSL Stockbrokers said, “tackling
corruption will require strengthening of the judicial system in ensuring
the speedy resolution of corruption cases; improved computerisation in
procedures required in obtaining important documents so as to reduce
face-to-face contact between officials and the populace.

“In
addition, there is the need for government to implement policies that
will enable the people exploit opportunities in the business environment
to improve their standard of living which might act as a deterrent to
engaging in corrupt practices.”

Former Nigerian President
Goodluck Jonathan at the launch of his book “My Transition Hour” last
year boasted that the country is more corrupt in 2018 than it was when
he handed over to the Buhari’s administration in 2015.

Technocrats
and activists have also raised eyebrows against the incumbent’s fight
against corruption, saying it is mainly targeted at the opposition.

Shehu
Sani, senator representing Kaduna Central, captured this feeling when
he said, “When it comes to fighting corruption in the National Assembly,
the Judiciary and in the nation at large, the President uses
insecticide, but when it comes to fighting corruption within the
Presidency, they use deodorants.”

While President Buhari has
maintained his stance on the fight against corruption, the opposition
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has contended that “fighting
corruption,” is not an economic policy.

Its Vice Presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, at the recent debate said: “You cannot lock your shop and start chasing criminals.”

Bent
on showing how firm the current administration is on the fight against
corruption, Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo responded: “If you
allow criminals to steal the inventory in your shop, you’d soon have no
shop.”

Source:- Businessdayng