Chatham House has released a scathing report contradicting President Bola Tinubu’s claim that his administration has eradicated corruption in Nigeria.
According to the report, corruption remains deeply entrenched in the country, undermining economic growth, governance structures, and eroding public trust in critical institutions.
Nigeria is among the world’s 40 most corrupt nations on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) and ranks 35th from the bottom on the World Bank’s control of corruption index.
Corruption has diverted public resources away from vital sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure, fueling poverty and inequality. Over 54% of Nigerians live in poverty.
The report links the persistence of corruption to decades of military rule, weak institutions, and political interference, which have stunted democratic development and crippled anti-graft agencies.
Despite disapproving of corruption, many Nigerians tolerate or engage in it for survival in a dysfunctional system, with 59.2% believing power is more important than honesty in their community.
Key recommendations are to mandate public asset declarations for officials and ensure public access to these records; utilise technology, such as e-procurement systems and open data initiatives, to promote collective accountability and citizen engagement.
Others are international Support by seeking socially meaningful penalties, like visa bans, for officials implicated in corruption and increase funding for anti-corruption bodies.