By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu, has ex...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu, has expressed concern over the pervasive nature of corruption in Nigeria.
According to him, an estimated 87 million cases of bribery, totaling N700 billion, were recorded in 2023, with rural areas experiencing higher frequencies of bribery than urban regions.
Aliyu emphasized that corruption remains the most significant impediment to Nigeria’s development, eroding trust in public institutions, undermining the rule of law, and stifling economic growth.
Speaking at an event organized by Ahmadu Bello University’s Faculty of Law, Aliyu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), pointed out that corruption is both a legal and social issue requiring a comprehensive approach.
He referenced a recent survey by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which ranked corruption as the fourth most pressing problem in the country in 2023, following the cost of living, insecurity, and unemployment.
Despite the challenges, Aliyu expressed optimism, stating: “We are making progress. The rate of citizens reporting bribe payments to official authorities increased from 3.6% in 2019 to 8.6% in 2023. This reflects a growing awareness and willingness among Nigerians to combat corruption.”
He further noted that corruption undermines human rights, breeding inequality and oppression, and reaffirmed the ICPC’s commitment to upholding human rights and promoting social justice by combating corruption and ensuring access to essential services.
Aliyu also cited a 2018 World Bank survey, highlighting that sexual harassment is a significant issue in Nigerian tertiary institutions, with approximately 70% of female graduates reporting experiences of harassment.
The ICPC chairman stressed that abuse of office remains a common form of corruption in many sectors of Nigeria’s public service, reiterating the high prevalence of sexual harassment among female students, as indicated by studies.
Describing human rights and social justice as the cornerstones of a fair society, Aliyu emphasized the need to ensure dignity, freedom, and equal opportunities for all.
He also addressed the importance of digital transformation and cybersecurity, urging continuous education and training for the judiciary to effectively adjudicate cyber-related cases such as online fraud, sexual extortion, cybersquatting, and unlawful interception of communications.
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