Corruption has caused a crisis of trust in Nigeria’s institutions and society. Showcasing and bringing together individuals who resist corruption can help change underlying social norms and support collective action.
The prevalence of corruption has long held back Nigeria’s development. A report by the country’s auditor-general in 2020 revealed nearly $117 million in government contract fraud and procurement violations in that year, although this figure likely represents only a fraction of the actual total. High-profile cases such as the extensive bribery scheme involving Glencore, one of the world’s largest trading and mining companies, which included over $52 million in bribes to intermediaries in Nigeria, and the $80 million money laundering and embezzlement case against former state governor James Ibori, highlight the issue. The recent announcement of an agreement between the US and Nigeria for the transfer of $52.9 million in forfeited corrupt proceeds underscores the complex nature of corruption, its widespread impacts and the critical need for global cooperation in anti-corruption efforts. Additionally, the 2012 misappropriation case involving $2.1 billion in pension funds for retired Nigerian police officers illustrates the persistent challenges Nigeria faces in prosecuting and punishing those involved in corruption.
Corruption has remained endemic in Nigeria, despite multiple attempts at reform by successive administrations. The perennial failure to reduce corruption at both its grand and petty scales has prevented the establishment of a genuine and robust social contract between the government and its citizens, and undermined both formal institutions and the delivery of basic services. Consequently, many Nigerians must rely on informal and exploitative survival strategies as they strive to navigate their everyday lives, which in turn perpetuates the corruption that causes the problem.
Extensive research by Chatham House and others shows that Nigerians largely oppose corruption and would welcome support in resisting it. Survey data also confirm that a majority of Nigerians consider addressing corruption to be crucial for improving the country’s governance and sociopolitical conditions, and show that most individuals both morally disapprove of corruption and acknowledge its harmful effects on society. However, in societies such as Nigeria, corruption is seen simply as the price for getting things done. This notion is reinforced by a perception that there is no accountability for those who engage in corrupt practices, and higher risks for those who do not. Where corruption provides an alternative means of survival and a solution (of sorts) to governance problems, it is difficult to convince people to abandon it, even when it is a key cause of societal challenges.
Years of rampant corruption and impunity have eroded the legitimacy of Nigerian leaders and institutions in the eyes of the public, diminishing their ability to unite citizens and build consensus. As a result, reform proposals are insufficient without the overhaul of the political, economic and social systems that enable corruption to thrive. Powerful incentives that enable elites to evade accountability and perpetuate the status quo must first be dismantled. Nigeria’s political party system, for example, must undergo significant reforms to regulate party financing and promote internal democracy, ensuring that credible and legitimate candidates and groups are attracted, elevated and rewarded within the system. Critical sectors and their governing institutions – such as the justice system, law enforcement, and election management – also need meaningful reforms to enhance their effectiveness and public integrity.
In challenging political or institutional environments, values such as integrity, transparency and public service need role models to demonstrate them.
However, these institutions are not self-enforcing. Neither will the necessary reforms be self-implementing. Without credible and motivated individuals who can champion the cause of institutional integrity and reform, even the most well-designed systems can falter, resulting in superficial outcomes. In challenging political or institutional environments, values such as integrity, transparency and public service need role models to demonstrate them.
Despite Nigeria’s challenging environment, there are credible and motivated individuals working on reforms and behavioural change within its institutions, government and society. These individuals are often disconnected, poorly networked and overlooked. They face steep challenges and considerable personal costs for their actions. But given the right support, they can offer critical leadership and inspiration for meaningful action against corruption.
Such role models can help galvanize efforts to reject corruption and overcome distrust. By acting with personal integrity, they lower the cost of doing the right thing for others and can inspire change. While bringing together credible reformers in ‘networked coalitions’ (see Box 1) is not a cure for ending corruption, it is necessary for implanting and implementing lasting solutions to the problem.
