A recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveals that Nigerians paid a staggering N721 billion in cash bribes to public officials in 2023.
The survey report, titled “Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends,” highlights that over 95 per cent of all bribes paid in 2023 were in monetary form.
The report estimates that the total cash bribes amounted to approximately N721 billion ($1.26 billion), which represents 0.35 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The findings show that bribes paid in public officials’ offices and on the streets accounted for around 35 and 36 per cent of all bribes, respectively.
Additionally, 11 per cent of bribes were paid in the respondents’ own homes, while 7 per cent were paid in public places such as restaurants, malls, or stations.
The report also sheds light on the sectors most affected by bribery. In 2023, healthcare professionals and public utility officers topped the list, with 30 per cent and 24 per cent of bribes paid, respectively.
Police officers followed closely, with a contact rate of 20 per cent for bribery.
The survey reveals a concerning decline in Nigerians’ confidence in the government’s anti-corruption efforts.
“Nigerians’ confidence in the government’s anti-corruption effort has been declining over time and across regions,” the report states.
While more than half of the citizens believed the government was effective in fighting corruption in 2019, this number dropped to less than a third in 2023.
The report also indicates a rise in private sector bribery, which increased from 6.0 per cent of citizens who had at least one contact with a private sector actor in 2019 to 14 per cent in 2023.
