Letters

Nigeria’s fight against corruption

Published by

7 years ago

CORRUPTION is Nigeria’s biggest challenge. It’s clear to every citizen that the level of corruption in the country is disturbing. This has reduced foreign interest in the economy of the country. There is every possibility of observing corrupt practices when perilously examined. It has become pungent cancer that has mercilessly eaten Nigeria deeply.

Nigeria, which is the most populated country in Africa, has been ranked high in corrupt practices by Transparency International and other notable organizations that monitor corrupt practices around the world; their findings are incriminating. High rankings in corrupt practices affect almost all Nigerians who migrate to foreign countries, as foreigners have a sordid assumption that since Nigeria is corrupt, so are all Nigerians.

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With the emergence of a new government in 2015, many Nigerians had great faith that it would be minimised when power left the hands of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) under President Muhammad Buhari. He had promised maximal eradication of corruption in the country. Irrespective of the campaign promises, today, Nigeria ranks low in transparency and high in corruption.

In 2015, out of the 168 countries surveyed, Nigeria was seen at the bottom of the table. The table revealed that Nigeria was the 32nd most corrupt country in the world. In 2017, there was no remarkable improvement in transparency in the country irrespective of the promises made by the current president to fight against corruption.

It is very disappointing that in the latest corruption perception index released by Transparency International, Nigeria has relapsed deeper into corruption and has moved 12 steps backwards from 136 to 148 when compared to the 2014 result.

We must do all to push for the minimal manifestation of corruption in our country. Nigeria must grow and we must ensure that it does so as soon as possible.