by Rita O. Oyewale
Corruption is one of the greatest obstacles affecting Nigeria in achieving its enormous potentials, it’s an anti-social attitude of improper privileges contrary to legal and moral norms and impairs the authorities’ capabilities to secure the welfare of all citizens.It has become a constant phenomenon we see around us from government officials and even the citizens. Every aspect of our lives – social, political, and the economic development of the country is one way or the other affected by this long-aged cankerworm that has eaten deep into the inner fabric of the nation.
According to Wikipedia, corruption, as it is defined by the World Bank, is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense that is undertaken by a person or an organization that is entrusted with a position of authority, to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one’s gain. Corruption encompasses activities that involve bribery and embezzlement. Corruption has been one of the major reasons for retrogression or perhaps underdevelopment in any country most especially countries in the Africa continent. Nigeria now ranks the second most corrupt country in West Africa with Guinea Bissau occupying the first position in the sub-region. with Nigeria been presumed to be the beat of Africa, corruption has been one of the major challenges battling the country since independence.
In 2012, Nigeria was estimated to have lost over $400billion to corruption since its independence. In Nigeria, corruption is found in every sector of the society running through every level of government from humongous contract fraud at the top through bribery, money laundering schemes, embezzlement, and many more. It is estimated through various research that corruption within the state apparatus costs the country billions of dollars every year.
The devastating effects of corruption can’t be overlooked. Many sectors in the country have been on a slow pace and many left stagnant due to the ripping effects of corruption. Sectors like power, transport, education, health, security, infrastructure, the judiciary system, and many more have been highly compromised by corruption. There seems to be corruption everywhere in Nigeria from the federal level to the state level, local government, public parastatal, public and private companies even families and individuals are not left out.
Corruption remains the greatest obstacle to economic and social development in Nigeria. The harmful effects of corruption are especially severe on the poor masses who are greatly hit by economic instability. The country’s International image had been stained with the dirt of corruption and that has been a major challenge facing Nigerians migrating to several countries around the world for greener pasture as they experience stigmatization almost every day.
The power sector has been one of the sectors greatly affected by corruption. Nigeria is estimated to have a population of over a 200million pepeople, yet about 80 to 85million people of its population live without access to electricity. Those who have access to electricity in Nigeria pay humongous money for electricity charges doubling that of the United States. According to research, it is estimated that Nigeria spends $13billion per year purchasing gasoline and diesel to power its generators. One would have thought as blessed as Nigeria is in terms of natural resources most especially crude oil, there won’t be the course of high imports of generators but the reverse has been the case.
Corruption has eaten so deep in the power sector that even after attempts by past and present governments and even international donors to revive the country’s power sector in making electricity available for both households and industries, the sector is yet to make absolute progress. Despite billions of dollars been channeled to the power sector since time passed, there has been nothing tangible to show for it. Power shortages severely cripple businesses in the country both large and small scale businesses. The World Bank estimated annual economic losses of $26.2billion which is about two percent of the country’s GDP owing to the lack of adequate power supply. With the increase in fuel price, many Nigerians are finding it difficult to cope. Prices of commodities and services have gone up with little or no increment in the minimum wage. The Manufacturing Association Of Nigeria claimed that within a decade, 820 manufacturing companies folded up or moved out of the country majorly or primarily due to poor power supply leaving one to wonder how many Nigerians have been rendered jobless as a result of this.
Another sector negatively affected by corruption is the security sector. Nigeria has one of the most corrupt defense and security sectors in the world, according to Transparency International. Decades of unchecked corruption have hollowed out the Nigerian military and security services and rendered them unable to effectively combat Boko Haram or address ethnoreligious and communal conflict. There have been cases of misappropriation of funds meant for the procurement of arms and ammunition to help boost the fight against insurgency and insecurity in the country. Several security officers most especially police officers have resulted in deviant collections of bribes from commuters on roads and highways and sometimes in the course of doing so, many lives have been lost as a result of accidental or intentional discharge of firearms. According to the World Internal Security And Police Index(WISPI), the Nigeria police force (NPF) is ranked as the number one worst police department in the world. Court orders are hardly obeyed and there is little or no regard for the constitution. Misappropriation of funds has been the order of the day in every aspect of Nigeria’s defense system from the military to the Custom agency to the police and many other security agencies.
The health sector is also one of Nigeria’s sectors that have seriously deteriorated due to corruption. Money meant for the construction and renovation of public hospitals, clinics, and health centers have been misappropriated by individuals or officials hereby rendering the sector almost useless. Even with the billions of dollars been channeled to the sector since time passed, there has been no positive change. Workers are been owed salaries which has resulted in various strikes and mass Exodus of health workers to much more working countries. with this, the masses are greatly affected especially those from lower class as they have no access to good healthcare and going to private hospitals seems like an Herculean task due to the exuberant price been charged.
Other sectors which are affected by corruption includes infrastructural sector, job sector, electoral sector, political and institutional sector and many more. As of the case of infrastructure which involves construction and maintenance of roads, railways, bridges and various engineering constructions, the sector is yet to undergo great development although it has improved over the years. Misappropriation and illegal diversion of funds meant for construction, renovation and maintenance of roads and other infrastructures has also been the order of the day in this sector. Both government officials, contractors, are fond of bribery and misappropriation of funds. People who are highly competent are sometimes not been awarded contracts because they have no bribe to pay. thereby contracts are awarded to less competent and inexperience people as long as they opt in for bribery. These acts have been seen to have negative impacts as roads and other infrastructures been constructed and built are of less standard and can’t withstand the test of time thereby endangering the lives of Nigerians and also making life difficult for people.
The corruption in the electoral sector can’t be overlooked. Incompetent politicians are been elected to the position of power as a result of electoral misconduct during election. Bribery has crippled the electoral system so bad that qualified politicians who have what it takes to drive and move the opt-industry in a positive direction are not been elected. Many Nigeria citizens have also been known to sell their votes hereby voting incompetent politicians who would later plunge the country into hardship. The judiciary system isn’t also left behind as regards corruption. It has become so bad that people have lost faith in the judiciary system.
In ensuring corruption is been put in check and minimize to the barest minimum, the government should ensure transparency in the political and electoral system. Reforming the security system most especially the police force should be prioritized. Recruitment of security, officers should be based on merit and competence. Promotions in the security forces shouldn’t be about how many years you’ve served in the force but how well you’ve fared in discharging your duties. And also, advanced technology should be used by security parastatals in discharging their duties. Government should also ensure transparency and Reformation in the judiciary system. People charged with the crime of corruption should be penalized according to the law regardless of the position they occupy. And lastly, awareness should be made to the public on the ripping effects of corruption through radios, televisions, and also through social media platforms.
It is important to know that corruption remains the greatest obstacle to economic and social development in any country mostly in Nigeria. Corruption cripple’s a country’s economic stability, social and human development. The sooner something is been done to curb corruption in Nigeria the better hence, the devastating effects of corruption will greatly affect the country’s progress in all ramifications that even the future generation won’t be spared from its effect.