Nigerian Officials Receive ₦721 Billion in Bribes in 2023, Report Reveals

A newly released report by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) has unveiled staggering statistics on corruption within Nigeria’s public sector.

According to the report titled “Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends,” published on Thursday, Nigerian public officials received an estimated ₦721 billion in bribes during the year 2023 alone.

The report, based on a comprehensive survey conducted with the UNODC, highlights that this sum accounts for approximately 0.35% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It underscores a significant increase in the average cash bribe size, rising to ₦8,284 from ₦5,754 in 2019, though adjusted for inflation, the real value of these bribes has decreased by 29% since 2019.

Despite a slight decrease in the percentage of Nigerians interacting with public officials, down from 63% in 2019 to 56% in 2023, bribery remains pervasive. On average, each bribe payer in Nigeria disbursed 5.1 bribes in 2023, totaling approximately 87 million bribes across the country, a decline from the 117 million estimated in 2019.

The mode of payment for these bribes was predominantly in monetary form, with over 95% paid either in cash or via money transfers. The report also noted a notable increase in bribery demands from private sector actors, particularly in sectors such as private healthcare.

Furthermore, the report reveals a growing trend of resistance against bribery, with 70% of respondents refusing to pay bribes when solicited, signaling a shift towards anti-corruption sentiments among Nigerians. This sentiment was particularly strong in the North-West region, where 76% of individuals refused to pay bribes.

Regarding recruitment in the public sector, the report disclosed that nepotism and bribery played significant roles, with 60% of successful candidates between 2020 and 2023 attributing their employment to these factors.

Notably, 40% claimed to have secured positions through legitimate means such as written tests or oral interviews.

The report concludes by highlighting that corruption remains a critical concern for Nigerians, ranking fourth after the cost of living, insecurity, and unemployment. Confidence in the government’s efforts to combat corruption has declined sharply, with less than a third of citizens believing in its effectiveness compared to more than half in 2019.