Nigeria must clamp down on corruption once and for all

📅 Published: August 17, 2025

📰 Source: thestandard

Curated by AllZimNews.com

Socioeconomic development is incompatible with corruption, something which has long plagued countries throughout Africa, but perhaps none more so than Nigeria.

Today, a tragic reality exists whereby a population with such vast potential is being held back by rampant mismanagement andcorrupt practices.

The situation facing Nigerians is bleak.

As millions suffer from poverty, those at the heart of power continue to profit from their misfortune.

A recent World Bank report estimated that 56 percent of Nigerians – some 130 million people – live below the national poverty line, an increase of roughly 40 percent on 2018 levels.

There have, however, been recent glimmers of hope.

Greater powers have been awarded to the country’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to combat nationwide corruption.

It was reported earlier this year that the agency recovered almost US$500m in proceeds of crime in 2024, securing more than 4000 criminal convictions.

On the economic front, inflation, while still incredibly high at over 20 percent, is down on a record 34% figure in 2024.

Although these first appear to be positive developments, Nigerians on the ground are seeing few improvements.

The cost of living is still astronomically high and, for such a young population, investment in education, healthcare and wider public services remains far too low.

Crucially, corruption remains as great an issue as it ever has been, and is both small and large-scale.