Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), revealed that Nigeria witnessed an estimated 87 million instances of bribery in 2023, with a total value of N700 billion.
According to Aliyu, bribery was more prevalent in rural areas compared to urban regions. He emphasized that corruption remains the most significant obstacle to Nigeria’s progress, undermining public trust, the rule of law, and economic development.
Aliyu, who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), shared these insights during his keynote address at the ongoing International Law Conference, hosted by the Faculty of Law at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Speaking on the topic “Law and Contemporary Societal Issues: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities,” the ICPC chairman highlighted that corruption is not only a legal matter but also a social issue that demands a comprehensive and sustained response.
Referring to a recent survey by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Aliyu pointed out that corruption was ranked as the fourth most critical problem affecting Nigeria in 2023, following the cost of living, insecurity, and unemployment.
“Despite these challenges, we are making strides. The rate of citizens reporting bribe payments to authorities increased from 3.6% in 2019 to 8.6% in 2023. This reflects the growing awareness and determination of Nigerians to combat corruption,” Aliyu stated.
He also noted that abuse of office continues to be a widespread issue across various sectors of the public service. Additionally, Aliyu addressed the problem of sexual harassment in tertiary institutions, citing studies that show a high prevalence of harassment among female students.
Referring to a 2018 World Bank survey, Aliyu mentioned that approximately 70% of female graduates from Nigerian institutions reported experiencing sexual harassment from classmates or instructors.
