NBS SURVEY: Nigerians paid N721bn in cash bribes to govt officials in 2023

A survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigerians paid a staggering N721 billion in cash bribes to public officials in 2023.

The survey, titled “Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends,” released on Thursday, revealed that over 95 percent of these bribes were in monetary form.

According to the report, there has been a notable decline in Nigerians’ confidence in the government’s anti-corruption efforts during the period under review.

The report stated, “Overall, it is estimated that a total of roughly N721 billion ($1.26 billion) was paid in cash bribes to public officials in Nigeria in 2023, corresponding to 0.35 percent of the entire Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria.”

It further detailed that bribes paid in a public official’s office and on the street accounted for approximately 35 percent and 36 percent of all bribes respectively. Additionally, 11 percent of bribes were paid in respondents’ own homes, while 7 percent occurred in public buildings such as restaurants, malls, or stations.

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The report highlighted that healthcare professionals and public utility officers were the most frequent recipients of bribes, accounting for 30 percent and 24 percent of encounters respectively. Police officers followed closely with a contact rate of 20 percent.

Discussing Nigerians’ perception of government anti-corruption efforts, the NBS noted a significant decline in confidence across regions and over time. “While in 2019 more than half of all citizens believed the government was effective in fighting corruption, by 2023, less than a third held that view,” the report stated.

Moreover, the survey revealed an increase in private sector bribery, rising from 6.0 percent of citizens having at least one encounter with a private sector actor in 2019 to 14 percent in 2023.

The findings underscore the pervasive issue of corruption in Nigeria, indicating a need for intensified efforts to combat bribery and restore public trust in governance.

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