Topic: Corruption in Nigeria as a Problem of Economic Growth and Development (Read 510 times)

  Corruption today is not only among the elites or power holders, is even trending among ordinary individuals that have not gotten to any where in life.  These ordinary individuals have not hold any position but desperately wishing to steal public funds if given opportunity to hold a position.
   And the worst part of it is that, even when they were not opportune to hold any Post, they still struggle to exhibit their level of corruption within themselves and they call it names, like achievement, wiseness or opportunity which is not suppose to be so. Corruption is corruption irrespective of where it comes from or who does it.


When you talk of reducing corruption, are you sure if really those leaders are sincere about their claims that they want to reduce corruption?
  Because most of our leaders have no good mind and intention. They are just saying what is not in their mind and that's not suppose to be so because is hypocritical. some of these leaders indeed want to make it better for their people but they lack wisdom to do it.  Some even have the wisdom but don't have good support from the cabinet.

There is a corruption everywhere, even in rich West but the problem is that in poor countries, governments and influential people want all the money in their pocket and that's where they make a huge mistake. If government increases the quality of life of an average citizen, they'll automatically increase their own quality of life. How is that possible? When average citizen lives well, they are happy and more productive, also more ambitious. When they are more ambitious, happy and productive, they make a high quality product and service. People in the government will spend life better in such a country, even if they are corrupt, they only have to be slightly corrupt and let people breath the air.

Corruption could be said to be the problem affecting the economy and development growth in Nigeria, But it definitely isn’t the source of it.

Take some time out to revisit the past, The Country Nigeria started off as a business deal between the Royal-Niger Company and the British government, Considering this fact you’d realize that the nation Nigeria wasn’t birthed for the obvious reasons of nationalism and preservation of our people rather an ill trade masterminded by the British.

The so called Royal Niger company still exists today as Unilever most Nigerians are familiar with this company they make so many home items basically things we eat, Do you think the company that sold Nigeria didn’t have a sharing formula. Carry out your research’s to know and understand Nigeria.

Corruption become main problem of economic growth and development every country, I don't know well with OP country Nigeria but based on what happen in my country Indonesia make many pool get difficult their economic condition after almost politician get corruption. The problem how difficult to stop corruption on every country because suspend too easily and corruptor just under arrest for few years later but their assets keep secure without freeze by government.
Need to change punishment for corruptor all countries must freeze their assets and make them become very poor people, I think is more effective then take them under arrest for few years but take their assets and make corruptor as poor possibility never has any corruption cases in the future.

Truly agree that it's a global problem , the fact can't be disputed , but the nature in which each nation handle curruption determine if they are willing to do a away with curruption or welcome it as doterine.

 In the case of our nation nothing has shown that they want to fight curruption base on their policy and the nature of sanction given to victim of curruption such as Money laundry, human trafficking, even the worst so called nepotism which has leads us to where we are in government today where democracy has turn out to become kakistocracy.

This is strategic means of government to keep it's citizens hostage under their control, if not good policy can change the narrative of this curruption and bring it to stopped and this can only be where the voice of people count and the leader having the people at heart.

Almost all countries have such corruption, especially in developing countries. Corruption is the biggest obstacle to the development of a country.  Corruption hinders the development of the country and harms the country and its people.  The higher the level of corruption in the country, the higher the problem.  The entire system of developing countries is full of corruption.  Not only Nigeria, most countries in the world are under the grip of corruption.

Then don't bring another country into a comparison. Simple! Stpp the whataboutism!



Again you're missing the point!
It's perceived corruption! So the score is how the people in that country perceive their own country!
So the one labeling Nigeria as corrupt are...what  surprise ..Nigerians!


/remind me 2124.
Let's have a bet, 50 years from now the corruption will be the same and people will keep blaming neocolonialism for it!


Oh yeah, cheap talk. The west , colonialism all that bs.

Why has South Korea managed to do it? How has Japan managed to do it? How the hell are the former colonies in South America all doing better than you? How are the older colonies of all the other world world doing better?

Oh, Gaddafi I love how the worse the piss of shit a dictator is the easier if for him to trick people into believing he's some genius.
AGAIN, NUMBERS NOT CHEAP TALK:

This is the GDP per capita of Lybia and Romania from 1990 till the death of Gaddafi:


So once the oil boom was done for his genius really comes into play:
Libya had in 90's a GDP per capita of $6000, Romania nearly poorest and most corrupt country to enter the EU in 2007 had $1600, 4 times lower.
In 2011 Romania outpaced Libya, with no oil and no gas, and no Shithammar Shitdictror al Shithole al-Gaddafi!
Want the comparison with South Korea, a western ...stooge?

But be my guest, have more of those geniuses a leaders, this has worked so great till now, it will for sure do wonders in the next millennia of blaming everyone else but the actual people in that country!

It's hard to find an honest politician... in my opinion, 99% of politicians are corrupt. And yes, corruption is a huge global problem, in some countries it's more visible, in some less, but corruption is everywhere.



Without poverty then how the rulers would rule and keep the power in their hands? Who would listen to old farts?

I think that the corruption problems that you mentioned are also problems in all countries. There are some that have not been mentioned, but even if we say that there are non-corrupt politicians, if there are more corrupt officials, it will be difficult for them to eliminate them.

Then, the poverty that citizens in every country go through is also a cause of sex trafficking because of the difficulty of earning money. This is rampant worldwide, not only in ASEAN countries but also in the US and others.

The Marxian idea of the communist manifesto foresaw the emergence of a classless society. For Marx , a time will come when the lower class will take over the economy of the state and make it a classless state.

Communism is a state system where the resources of the state are used for the people by the people. The people in this context are the people of the middle and the lower class taking over the means of production and distribution of the state resources.

In states like China, North Korea and other places , corruption is at its lowest level due to the level of sanction given to corrupt individuals.

Communism is the best suggestion for Nigeria and not restructuring.

Also lacking of education is one of the root cause of this since if people will be educated plus they will be out of greed for money on election day then for sure they will not get convince to those leaders who buy their votes and write the eligible leaders on their ballots that can really help their country grow. But sadly corruption start with people since usually they want to receive some cash before they vote that's why corrupt leaders intended to get their money back spent and that's how things make complicated.

If people just became so smart to choose those people who have heart for their people for sure this corruption will be lessen and they should eliminate this classic politician since nothing will happen on their country if they keep vote that officials and get some seats on government.

Africans are good and very hardworking people but their political leaders are devils. They are sets of heatless people who don't care about the plight of the people. I can state categorically that the reason for the economic woes of Nigeria is not Western influence. Nigeria is not the only country that is been remotely controlled by the West but the country's condition is far worse than these nations. Let's assume that the West is stealing from Nigeria through diverse means, but the amount politicians steal from the country is enough to develop the nation.

A country that prides itself on being one of the top producers of oil and gas can't boast of good roads or a constant power supply. Yet politicians live in affluence, flaunting their wealth before the poor populace. The most painful part of the issue is that these poor citizens are deceived using religion, tribe, and political party affiliations. The citizens because of peanuts become tools by which these politicians use to oppress and impoverish the people. During elections, they vote based on tribal and religious lines regardless of the quality of the candidate. Africans still have hope of surmounting these problems but the first impediment to uproot should be bad leadership.

The problem with everything you mentioned, boils down to unqualified people getting into positions of power. The moment when "merit" and "qualification" and "experience" is ignored to favor the appointment of a friend or a family member with political connections... then everything spiral out of control and eventually collapse.

Those people usually misuse their power and are not capable to do their jobs... and poor decisions or decisions that are made to enrich themselves or their family or friends (tender corruption) ... will eventually destroy the country.

The people in power will protect that power with guns... so it is very difficult to stop them.

Governments in countries with high levels of corruption are doing all sorts of things to reduce the rate of corruption, but failure after failure occurs, why? because corruption is carried out collectively so that one official will protect each other because that is also what happens in my country, and it will be difficult to change.
And in my opinion, the form of corruption that hurts people the most is nepotism because it closes people's opportunities to get better jobs because these positions have already been filled by people who have acquaintances even though they have inappropriate qualifications.

Corruption won't go away, and it is always part of the society that we can't totally eradicate.
But the officials should not totally worry about their pockets, at least help their constituents to alleviate their economic status in life.
As corruption can't be avoided, what they can do is at least alleviate or improve the economic condition of their constituents

Quite an obvious thing right?
I agree with third world country condition for years. What's sad about it is that it is becoming a normal thing with politics that there will always be corrupt officials which will make taxes a good cash cow for their own interests. Obviously it will negatively affect the economy of a country sinces funds is not being disseminated properly to the rightful sectors which supposedly ones who will use economy's money to create growth; establishments, infrastructures, and new systems which will be used by people in those countries wherein this phenomena is existing. The result? Third world countries are still on the same category for decades unlike with countries which have met economic growth and be one with the strongest and wealthiest. One single leader won't be able to make absolute changes; our help as citizens would be much needed as well as cooperation from all of us. Unending problem which yields to uneding struggle of people.  With corruption, who's the one to blame? the one who's doing it or people who voted for him/her?

It's a widespread problem. Even in developed countries, there are still tons of corruption happening and people are just silent about it because they are reaping the benefits. Nigeria is a unique problem though, because corruption is very evident yet people are not really trying to do something about it. They vote the same people expecting for different results. So long as the citizens are not actively doing anything about it, they will always be a victim of the dire economic conditions in Nigeria.

Well to be honest this is not happening in just one country like Nigeria but this is quiet common in most third world countries around the world. Here in my country, those forms of activities are familiar to me as it happens every single day in here. Unfortunately, regardless of nationality either Nigerians or other races with corruption happening on their respective countries it will surelly affect the economic growth and development of the said country.

OP, corruption has eaten very deep into Nigerians and their political class, when you talk about health penalty though is a good idea but have you taken your time to think about this, who are the people to make the law to be functional, the same people guess, if they are not going to acquired a certain stuff, how will they do the existing one, are they going to be ceased by the government in power and with what approach will this be successful, do you know that most of our senators through out their stay in the red chambers don't have any senatorial district project to show, so do you think they will allow such law to take place, even though the lower chamber allows it, the upper chamber will frustrate such good plan.

The solution to the problem of this country is a collective effort by both the government and the people, some action of the government and the politicians is been supported by the people that why is any financial crime is been committed the perpetrators are been allowed to go free without facing the law appropriately, Nigeria have a long way to go in terms of corruption.  

I agree with that. And the issue is not only limited to the government but also happens in a normal individual. It's just that Nigeria is only our topic here and maybe the corruption rate there is higher than the rest of the countries. Sometimes it was the fault of the voters but sometimes it can be the fault of the governments too. Apart from what you said there, there are also voters who vote a candidate because they are being given an incentive.

It can be money or groceries. It may seem unethical but I think there are also candidates who are doing their duties well and they still help the people in need, when they are already sitting on their positions.

The death penalty for corrupt people is something that I really dream of happening in my country, but up to now the majority of parliament members and human rights activists have absolutely not allowed this to happen.
China is a good example of a country that has succeeded in reducing the level of corruption using their precise and very firm political policies. If China had not implemented the death penalty on its citizens who were corrupt, it would be impossible for China to become a country with a strong economy today. Nigeria is a developing country and there are still many vested interests in it, democracy seems to be failing in Nigeria.

Generally, if we talk about corruption, negative things about economic growth in that country are indeed bad, things like that don't only happen to Nigeria and the people there, Countries that commit acts of corruption are quite bad, especially in terms of the economy and people's lives.

I see that currently there is no country that does not commit corruption, whether it is a country that has a high or low value currency, there are always cases of corruption, We can see that the world economy is currently deteriorating, but the government does not think to act professionally in eradicating corruption, instead they are ambitious.

I am sure that if corruption can be eradicated well, Nigeria will become the most prominent country in terms of economy and the Nigerian people can experience good enjoyment.

The western countries, especially the scandinavians have done a pretty good job of halting corrupt practices in their society. So again, generalizing it to every country is not right. Any discussion on corruption in a populous, poor country like, say, Nigeria or India has to acknowledge that the systems have been left to rot. We have failed to inculcate ethics in society because of the cut-throat race for survival and money.

Its stupid to try to defend the "honor" of the country when it comes to corruption. People are misled based on these statements and the politicians get away with it. You are just being a useful fool for those politicians if you equate the two things.


Acknowledging that Nigeria is corrupt doesn't mean that the people are bad/ evil. The people are just plain ignorant because of the level of their societies. The same was true for western societies for a very long time. Even today, you will find ignorant Americans who will talk about Flat earth, conspiracy theories and will be downright supremacist and racist. Those people are in every country. Yet, due to the level of leadership, social debate and human values, these societies have gradually reformed from within.

We have to be laser-focused that reform needs to come from within. And diverting the corruption topic by making it about how the people are not bad or how the country itself is being manipulated by Americans, is a sure shot way of being a useful fool in the hands of the very politicians who are the cause of social/ economic degradation.

Another educated person who thinks he has it all figured out because he uses big words like "Neo-colonialism". Are we going to talk about "Cultural appropriation" next??

Your theory goes that the developing world sucks because the West doesn't allow them to progress. You talked about Gaddafi. In Libya and the other Arab Spring countries, all that the west had to do is destabilize an already precarious peace between generally two warring parties. Do you care to ask that why the fuck are those people, who are Arabs on both sides, Muslims on both sides, speak almost the same languages; still can't reconcile their differences and give a "Fuck you" to the west??

It will always be in West's geopolitical interest to keep the Arab/ African lands destabilized and dependent. So they do it..Why the fuck can't those people figure out how to stop killing each other??

Take Sudan's example. The people are very much ethnically same but those from the North consider themselves Arabs and Muslims while they see the southerners as Ethnic Christians. Now that North-South separated after years of bloody conflict, each of them is again busy in fighting along their own ethnic, religious fault-lines. (Nuer vs Dinka in South Sudan. Army vs Revolutionaries in North Sudan)

What you guys in Africa and all of Arab world need to realize is that the West isn't the root cause. The root cause is the deep divisions within your own societies where you are willing to kill your fellow countryman if he happens to be from another ethnicity/ religion/ language/ ideology.

But yeah, "Death to Gamora" is so much easier of a rally call to keep all the sheep in line.

Nothing wrong with us. We are all awesome people. It's America doing all the destabilization!

Let us take our minds to the Karl Marx communist manifesto , he envisioned the overthrowing of the elite class in society.

in my whole post I recount mentioning that the problem with Nigeria is bad leadership and by bad leadership it means corrupt leadership as the problem to the development of Nigeria and not that Nigeria as a country is poor and miserable as the other poster emphasized in one of his paragraphs. It is not poverty that is the problem to the underdevelopment of Nigeria but it's rather a bad leadership issue.

Now, for the records I know my history quite well more than you think you do, for I am not a man who is oblivion of his own  history.

You talk about me not blaming the WEST and Europe for the underdevelopment of Nigeria, yea, you're right, it's been years since independence but let me make it clear to you that there's difference between Political independence and economical independence.  There's the political but in a cloak the economic independence is withheld and may of the African countries leader's that tries oppose that economic dependency automatically becomes an enemy of the WEST/Europe a clear example (which I expect you will refute) is Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi of Libya. What happened when he took the decision to cut economic ties with the WEST and gave unprecedented development both human and infrastructural development to his people,  he was tagged a tyrant, a dictatorship, and how was his end?  Today what is the current situation/condition of living standard in Libya compared to when he Gddafi was in leadership position, one that refused to be a stooge to the West.

Neocolonialism is now the new order but no one is talking about it. Nigeria leaders are corrupt I don't dispute, but the question is who are those aiding this corruption and benefiting behind the curtain. No body is talking about that.

There are two things that can encourage someone to commit a criminal act of corruption, the first is internal drive, where this drive arises from within oneself, such as greed, a high lifestyle or when a person has an urgent need. Greed has driven a person to behave badly, because the most important thing for him is how he can get the maximum profit to continue to increase his wealth. Likewise, when someone has a high lifestyle and standard of living and is not used to having to live hard, because as we know, the basic salary of a government employee is not much, while when it comes to the programs and projects they run, the amount is very reasonable. . and if a person only relies on his basic earnings, then he will not be able to fulfill his excessively high lifestyle, so this will encourage a person to behave dirty by committing corruption crimes. And the last one is urgent need, when someone has an urgent need and it must be done immediately, then this can cause a person to be unable to think long and hard, until in the end, to answer his urgent need, he chooses to commit corruption.

And secondly, are external factors. This is a factor that arises out of the desires of the official, such as expensive political costs or campaign costs, so that when he becomes an official, he inevitably has to return the capital he previously spent. And furthermore, sometimes the encouragement arises from the supporting political party.

That’s the point I’ve been driving at all along. Nigeria has been painted go to be the worst of the worst but that’s not entirely the case here.
Something have to be made straight here, it’s not a comparison on Switzerland and Nigeria, no. That wouldn’t go and I don’t even know how that comparison kicked in and it’s something I wouldn’t want to go into. Comparing an entire governance with a sector of a nation, no not again I must say. It’s not a comparison. It’s simply, having to identify that there is corruption and corrupt practices just in about every nation and no one is being so loud about it, painting the nations to be the worst with every statement that comes off there lips.

Like stated in OP, there are forms to corruption and one of the itemized is in Money Laundering and Siphoning. It’s just about identifying this and not making any comparison what so ever so, let’s skip the Switzerland thing.

I had to go over the index you provided and it’s a good piece of material with detailed findings. Listing nations/territories in scores perceived as corrupt and less corrupted.
While the positioning of a nation might be just that, the scores highlighted the perception index of which, the research material as updated in 2022 in its index scores Nigeria 24 in respect to being perceived as corrupt while, Switzerland is well around 84 perceived as less corrupt (I’ll highlight again that this isn’t about comparison but, being a bone of contentment for a while, I just have to put it out). You could as well see some nations way below 10 for a score perceived as corrupted. I wouldn’t want to mention any country so we don’t get the idea of having a comparison but, you don’t find no one painting them like they are the worst people in the world.
Next thing would be on how Nigerians are corrupt and the generalization sets in. It ought not to be so:

Of course not stompix, am sure you understand that’s not the case here but, let’s disagree to agree for some forward here.

This is an idea that is deeply embedded in my ethics for a being. The first step to problem solving is knowing that, you’ve got a problem. If you don’t, then there would sure be no reason for worry or nothing to solve. That’s something well known to me.

We’ve got corruption problems and it continues to root itself deep in the fabrics of the nation but, there are changes being done as well. No one is actually speaking about it but it’s coming.
Like, a state in Nigeria which I wouldn’t want to mention; where we have an out going governor through corrupt practices puts a government in place and designs a structure for indirect rule of the state even as he serves as a federal minister, with hopes to have 25% of state allocations.
The incumbent government deemed it well to kick against the injustice that was to be done to its people and with the backing of his people and court, his being going about revolutionizing the whole state. Trying to ensure peace in the crisis that was to follow but still, no one would talk about that.

We see the problem and with the right person in office, we would solve the problem. Nigerians are good people I tell you.

But we can have someone not living in Switzerland talking how Nigeria is better in corruption that Switzerland, see the how easy you're breaking your own rules?

Besides the whole comparison is simply stupid, I'm going to say it, stupid, you're comparing the banking industry in one country with the entire government in other, which makes no sense whatsoever, is a banker accepting to store money from a corrupt foreigner impacting on the life or well being of the citizens? No! It's government official taking bribes and canceling or allowing projects at random impacting the life, yeah, it is!
And it's not just me, it's your own citizen hat call it out, it's called perception index
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index

7     Switzerland
vs
150    Nigeria   

But yeah, keep saying that you're no worse that other countries and keep doing what you've done till now, this will obviously solve things!

Some really mistake patriotism with being ignorant on the real issues of your country, trying to picture yourself as better than reality and not taking criticism is not making you a patriot, a patriot is a realistic guy who criticize what's wrong with his country and acts to fix it, the cheap proudness I found here is noting like that.


That's exactly what you have done!
All your post was trying to find dirt on another country you've probably never set foot in just to defend yours!


Acknowledge them first!

I like to disagree on this because I believe in the goodness in the heart of people but this is the hurtful truth about corruption in many countries, you're probably make it easier for yourself to count which countries that aren't corrupted, totally agree that it's the people that's responsible in all this but the problem is that even if we blame them when there's no change, it won't matter. The only way that I believe a change can happen for a country and the people electing the deserving ones and removing the corrupt ones by force is probably if we start to care as an individual first, start caring about what happens to the society around you and try your best to make a little change, it will resonate towards other people eventually and always have your kids teach to question authority and to point out what's wrong and always help those in need, you're going to be raising a really good leader if you were successful at doing that.

Corruption is one of the biggest problems in ANY country's economy.

This is one side of the problem. The second, and the worst truth about corruption is that corruption is not caused by presidents, ministers, policemen, .... a.. IT'S US AND THE CORRUPTION NETWORK!
We ourselves give bribes, we ourselves ask for help to get a job "because we are relatives", we ourselves do not pay taxes and give bribes to avoid punishment.
As long as we do not accept this and do not start fighting corruption, starting with ourselves, we will suffer from this disease. We will suffer, complain about our fate and... tell everyone that corruption is evil, while continuing to create and support corruption with our actions.

Corruption is an evil that we can and must destroy in ourselves!

Funny you would say that but the point is;
We’ve got corrupt people and governance everywhere and Switzerland is no exception on having to be arms open to all laundered money across nations and you don’t find no one being so loud about it like Nigerians do to even the little problems.
Try searching on any search engine out there about “corruption in Switzerland” and the first thing your most likely to see is how it’s banking system is the most corrupt in the world with regards to money laundering and still, you won’t have the Swiss people here lambasting the nation why, it adds to there development. There are others but, I wouldn’t want to dig into the dirts of other nations with my filthy hands still trying to solve mine.

It’s not obvious that of Nigeria takes a different turn in terms of there own corruption as it tends to reduce us but, I don’t agree that having several tribes or languages has been what causes the demise of Nigeria, no. It’s just a deep rooted ideology that has gained foothold in the hearts of its political system and has manifested even in its judicial system which is often about, get what you can while you occupy the office.

Blaming the WEST, nope, we don’t get to blame the WEST because, it’s we Africans that allow them to whirled as much power as they do but, I must agree that the quest for a change would continue to take a very long turn before it arrives. Maybe if we are able to fix our judiciary, a lot of changes would result in the nation.

We see the problem and one of it is, what we have to endure which we shouldn’t. When Nigerians gets to its breaking point, you would see them chanting for a change and they will. We know we are the solution and we would continue to persevere to make the nation better.

Can’t have someone that haven’t lived in Nigeria have to define its politics in its wholesomeness as rotten or it’s society to be impoverished. Just a statement that you use on any African or Asian nations and it just seems to fit but, is that really the truth?
How many African nations or Asian nations have most of those having this idea of Africa and Asians being impoverished visited? How long did you spend there to come up with these reducing claims? What parts of the nations was visited that a whole nation or continent well be related this way. No, it’s not so, that’s not the whole truth. Africans and Asians still live good lives and have got enjoyment of amenities as well. We still search for a means to make good amends for everyone but we understand it’s gradual.

We have problems and we would solve them!

Ths is rather a global issue it's happens with most of the countries and not limited to just Nigeria and moreover if you try figuring out who is responsible it's the general public who vote the corrupt people to power just because they are from same race, ethnicity or religion rather than voting based on merits. I think this issue would resolve only when everyone takes a pledge to development their nation and work for public without corruption which is not possible to be honest. Only an honest leader can save the nations from corruption.

  Corruption is naturally in every country,but it seems its not stopping anytime soon.The more improvement in the country,the more enrichment at the expense of the majority.

Corruption has been around for a very long time and will be around in the future unless governments can figure out effective ways to minimize it. This is not going to be easy. But I I'm looking forward to seeing its improvement or abstinence.
  The government will still fish out their own strategy to manipulate or mismanage the economical factors of the country.

Corruption has spoiled the country that has so much potential to be among the best nations in the world, at the stage of our corruption I don't think the country can ever be reclaimed. The corruption isn't just happening at the top but it's affecting the grassroots of the nation. From our small community, there's corruption practice so it's not a suprise to see corruption becoming the face of the nation.

What can be done to stop this, It seems the country needs another war that will separate us. A war will separate us and we live our life's separately like the Koreans. The country is too big for the type of brainless leaders that we're electing to govern us and there's nothing that can be done about that because our democracy is corrupt.  We can't trust the process to bring leaders into power and it has been taken over by corrupt leaders.


Will it be followed appropriately, the corruption can still get to the judiciary system, the law makers are corrupt so they won't pass this into law. Everybody at the top is benefiting from this corruption so why will they leave the perfectly corrupt system that they're enjoying to pass this into law and let say it get passed, who are those responsible for this to takes full effect, it's still the corrupt leaders at the top so the country is in a complete mess.

No one has said anything concerning this part of OP’s post, which I think is the point of the thread. So far, all I can see is fighting over which country has more corruption. I understand that this is a sensitive topic and many may find the topic offensive, in my opinion anyone who considers himself a patriot would be offended by it.

I don’t think OP is very knowledgeable about how society and government operate. A communist government is not a system that favours the average person. Communism is a system where everything is owned and controlled by the state. I find it ironic that a bitcoiner could be pro-communism.

Corruption..! This is a problem that is quite complicated and difficult to overcome. Even though it is an action that is very detrimental to the country and makes its people miserable, eradicating corruption in government is impossible, but if it is minimized, it can be done.

And acts of corruption can be a factor inhibiting a country's economic progress, this is true. because if a country has frequent cases of corruption due to the large number of irresponsible officials, then don't expect that the country's economy will be stable and the country's economy will progress. The country will continue to experience economic losses and setbacks. because they (government officials) who manage their country's economy are busy enriching themselves. Meanwhile, when a country wants to progress economically, it inevitably has to involve investors, but when the country has a bad image with many officials who commit corruption, then don't expect investors to enter the country. because for investors, corruption is a loss and something that is dangerous for investors.

Corruption is just one of the numerous factors that can hinder the economic growth of a nation.

Poor decision-making on the part of the leaders is for me, the main cause of the economic situation ravaging Nigeria and let me point it out that economy challenges is not just peculiar to Nigeria, it is a global issue, and Nigeria equally has its share of it

Seriously!!! Are you drunk or what? Still partying from New Years Eve? 


No bruh, Nigeria is not poor because corruption, because people argue between themselves and try get as much as they can for themselves and their family knowing that everything is wrong in the country and unless you break the laws which nobody ever follows you won't make it!

In year 34 000 then the Federal Union will finally make peace in the 5th Stellar war with the Pluton Republic and everyone will agree that homo sapiens astronomicus and homo sapines martes are the same species that have the same genealogical tree branching from year 6000 when the human species has left for the first time our galaxy there will be still some guy somewhere in Africa blaming colonialism for his family not affording soemthing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkEqI3_J4xg
Everyone should watch and weep of what reality really looks like!


Read your damn history first, oil exploration in Nigeria began in 1957 you gained independence in 1960!
What have you done since then?
South Korea was a country destroyed by war, poorer than all of Europe at the time, no natural resources, a constant enemy north, and yet:
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.KN?locations=KR-NG
But yeah, easier to blame stuff that happened a century ago than actually man up and change something.

Colonialism?
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?end=2022&locations=NG-RO-BG-KZ-MY-TH-PE&start=1983
In the '90 you had a gdp per capita on par with eastern europe, what happened?
Common, make my day, explain how colonialism is to be blamed here:



Unlike most of you guys I've actually lived in a communist, truly communist country!
You have no idea how this actually looks like, and corruption, corruption is a spawn of communism, if you think communism will get rid of it you're on some pretty weird drugs, it's communism that has brought insane corruption in this world, with people you can't defy, you can't held responsible taking all the power and demanding money for everything!

Communism works only till all money you have gained by looting the wealth of others and nationalizing everything lasts, then it's poverty, poverty and poverty 100 times worse than anything you can imagine!

This is not new.

Corruption is the number one goal of every government, I believe. People who has great power nowadays are always after money, they don't care how they would get it, they just get it no matter what. Corrupt government are everywhere around the globe, they are the type of politicians who doesn't care about their citizens, unless it is election time.

They are the ones who always use sugarcoated words to brainwashed people's mind to encourage them to vote for those kind of politicians. What a cruel world we live in.

A few posters above confirm what i was saying in my post.

People make comparisons egged on by their stupid media and stupid politicians. They tell them that the problem is not their own leadership or thought standards but the WEST is the problem..."Yayyyy...Death to Gamora".

My whole post was not about hurting the sentiments. I clarified that much towards the end.

Yet, people don't read their own history. African nations have nobody else but their own divisions of ethnicity, tribes, languages and religions to blame when it comes to their historical exploitation. One warlord fighting against the other while the west is able to make them kill each other, supply weapons, get cheap resources and profit from both sides.

No major revolution came out of any of these African countries except in South Africa. All they did was get their own heroes killed and crucified when they tried. My whole point was, stop blaming the west and find your unity irrespective of the divisions. Maybe then you can boast about Nigeria having resources. Stop making excuses that the countries have gone to shit.

It's also my impression; it seems corruption in Africa is extreme and rampant. And it is holding back African countries from reaching even halfway their potentials. It has been like that for many decades. There must be a much deeper problem causing that. Is it partly cultural? Is it because the continent and the African people have been subjugated for centuries?

Corruption is also a very big problem in my country, but I see this problem as a mere symptom. I cannot speak with authority on the African situation, but I'm convinced that my country's corruption problem has something to do with many factors which at its roots include lack of values.

My brother it is annoying seeing our youths making comparisons to justify a corrupt system because they are afraid to say the truth.

Corruption is the common problem in many countries but you'll be surprised that it has not hindered their own growth and development as much as it has hindered the growth and development of many African countries like Nigeria that is suffering from it. The leaders of some African countries do not know when to be corrupt, they are corrupt always and concerning everything even the one that will benefit their families. The leaders from other countries in other continents where things are still going on fine are corrupt too, but selectively. They know how to be corrupt and also know that it should not be with everything, so it has not slowed down their economy.


You should not speak so bad, using many descriptions too for a country you have never visited. Nigeria even with the corruption is a common problem not peculiar to us alone is still a very enjoyable place to stay. We are a blessed country.

You don't just call or address another's country in such manner of  language only people from the cave should be doing while a supposed enlightened being I assume you to be rebuke the charade of incivility. Read history , the oil wells and natural resources of the African nation's have been the very source  of the WEST and European nations so-called development you pride yourself with Feel free to do your own unbiased research and not what you have been enlightened with by your censored media concerning African nation's.

Africa and Nigeria especially isn't poor nor filthy it's a rich nation filled with any natural resources in the world you can think of, what Africa and Nigeria in particular lacks is good and selfless leaders in political and economic positions that out of their greed have sold their Father land to the pillaging and siphoning of her wealthy resources by the so-called First world.

Can you please mention five natural resources that Switzerland has and it's lacking in Nigeria apart from good political leadership and I'll mention a full hand of natural resources found in Nigeria alone that the whole of the European countries are lack as a natural resource.

Can you unequivocally say there's no corruption in your country that the system is perfect ?

Let be objective in how we share our thoughts and not being derogative as no nation is an autarchy of itself.

All this long epistle about your country and keep saying your country is the worse in terms of corruption because of how you keep reiterating the matter and bringing some prove to back up your claim. You can’t just come to a conclusion without going for a full research about other countries on how they operate and how they deal with corruption. If corruption is part of the problems in the country, I think there are other pressing issues that needs to be addressed before delving into corruption. I don’t like it and I don’t like to be associated with it, Nigeria is not the most corrupt country in the world nor is it in Africa, don’t say too much if you don’t know much.


“Nigeria is not the most corrupt country in the world or in Africa” and if you continue having that mindset you’ll never appreciate even when a good that deserves merits is done for you or the country. All the listed causes of corruption in the country listed above are all prevalent everywhere and it just differs the country at that time and how they handle or control their cases. Culture and Religion hasn’t caused more effect to Nigerians because of the believe of a togetherness and living together as one in peace and harmony. If that is not achieved for a country, the case of corruption is still a secondary factor to be considered in such country. Despite all the problems faced in the country, it is still a place I will like to stay and live forever as my permanent residency.

I quite understand your perspective of the concept of the West. The West domination of the Economies of developing countries is a big problem, the west hampers with our collective development as Africans through the following ways

1. Enforced high interest loans offered to African countries through IMF and World bank, these loans are forced on African countries. During President Buharis times as head of state , he refused accepting the forced world bank loan , they forced him to devalue the Nigerian Naira.

2.  Multinational corporations and companies established in African countries in strengthen imperialism and Neo-colonialism

3. The West has discouraged the productive capacity of Africans and has made us unproductive so that , we can be economically reliant on them.

To save ourselves from the powers of the west as problem of development in African countries, we must cut them office in these areas and indigenize our productive capacity.

I like the fact that your some worth grounded with the background, cultural and political heritage of Nigeria. We don’t get to deny the fact that, we’ve got corrupt leaders in this part of the world and we as Africans do try to do things in our best interest but it continues to be surprised and influenced by the rich and powerful from the developed world still.
Leaders trying to make a change and unify Africa and Africans being labeled as dictators with a puppet leader being prepared and put in place by the west to serve interests of the west.
Where after the neocolonialism, they still fashion colonialism in terms of business and unscaled trade relations. Not like the pol don’t know better but being I’ll fated, it becomes really difficult to escape the grasps of this long claws of the west.

Little wonder why some African nations lately have been or are going through military actions.

Believe me, I found it a bit uneasy having to read this as, it doesn’t define Nigeria politics by any means. Maybe the comparison don’t get to go but, your telling me Switzerland is any less corrupt than Nigerian?

Little wonder what it’s been referred in the popular phrase a Swiss Banker…. It’s always the one place where it all gets to and it’s made to go away. Accepting corrupt and laundered money across nations of the world because it adds to its economy, does that make it any less corrupt or rotten?
Nigeria being impoverished, are you serious right now or you’re about what’s being posted on the internet and the various chants you hear out there. Of course the standards of living might be poor for a large part of its population but, that’s largely due to corruption I agree but, not at all defines the wealth in the nation.

And prince scam?
Naaahhhh, Nigeria didn’t start swapping of cards, drugs, pimping and more of the vices you’ve hit out there. If only Nigeria was as half secured as the rest of the developed world, crime rate would have been zeroed upon. Nigeria is much more better than y’all imagine it to be and Nigerians are good people. Don’t be fooled by the few gullible people out there and what they preach.

People saying "Corruption is everywhere" to a post about corruption in Nigeria really trivializes the point the OP is making. Yes, there is corruption in other places too but most of the developed world stands where it is today because the rich and powerful were not so easily able to trample rights and just practice unchecked corruption in those places. Someone gave the example of Switzerland. Are you out of your mind making a comparison between an impoverished, filthy, socially and politically broken and rotten country like Nigeria with Switzerland??

Really?

Its the age of right wing governments around the world and you will always hear these chauvinists egging people on to be "proud" of their heritage and culture. Tell me, What the fuck does a lot of these poor, impoverished African countries have to be proud of??? They let themselves be split in factions, tribes. Nigeria has these deep divisions due to Islamic fundamentalists, the divisions due to languages and what not.

Be proud all you want for the reason that you were born in that nation, but lets not wash over the plain fact that the leaders of these nations have been corrupt, power-hungry, incompetent fools. On top of that, the people themselves have fallen in ethics, humanity, dignity and honor. There is a reason that the "Nigerian Prince scam" became a meme to denote scamming throughout the world. The people will justify it in their own way but this reality is something that every Nigerian, every failed African national should face and ask to themselves. The people who rule you are generally only as worse as the people themselves.

These nations have let their culture and humanity rot. Lets not even go to the extreme sexual violence and the pathetic state of women in countries of Africa and impoverished Asia/ India. Frankly, Africans should really re-recognize their humanity first and then talk about bigger social things like corruption. You let Belgians fuck Congo over and really just became what Joseph Conrad described as the "Heart of Darkness".

That my friend is the unadulterated truth about the state of African nations and their history. Lets not trivialize it with "Ohh, corruption is everywhere". You have far more serious problems to consider than just corruption.

EDITED: Please don't consider this as a hate post about Africa or Nigerians. I am not against any people. I have met many cool African friends. Yet, the problems of Africa are something that has always broken my heart since I was a child reading about it being the "cradle of civilization". I understand that a lot of this impression may also be wrong considering how things have changed in the past 20 years. Yet, i have read enough of the sad histories of Uganda, Congo, Rwanda and countless others. Even South Africa has these horrifying crime figures in Johannesberg. It almost feels like Africans have become incapable of humanity. May God help them all.

every country has all these problems of corruption. Nigeria and all other parts of Africa's growth had been suppressed in many ways. Africa is a very rich country with huge deposits of resources but because it has been suppressed the corruption of leaders will also arise.

every organization we know is trying to help improve hunger but raw materials including food don't even reach these countries. it's like the supply chain stops sending in these countries which means there is certain corruption from the top that doesn't want African countries to develop.

Corruption is everywhere! In some places it's hidden under the pile so it's not visible enough to the common people. But in majority of the places corruption is a common practice. So it's not easy to eliminate corruption from the society.

Probably it is a bigger problem in Nigeria and in many other African countries as well. But if you are looking for a corruption free society, you are probably day dreaming.

That's why people from such countries always look for ways to move to a developed country. Sad but that's the reality.

I must say, I like the fact that you can write and took quite some time to get this piece to a level that gives you great satisfaction but, would you mind fact chickening lost of this and drop the reference to the claims? I’m particularly interested in how my country is presented because, though I accept that there exists corrupt practices in various systems to our administration and lifestyle, I don’t feel we are worst or even way worst when compared to other parts of the would so, you might want to clear things up by fact checking and giving references.

These are norms in a society, it doesn’t make it any better but, it happens in our world everyday. Show me a nation that this is non existent and you’ll more than prove a point.

There are obviously means to solving several issues and I can tell you, Africa could be more than willing to adopt but, are you familiar with the term “THE WEST”.
Perhaps you need to go over what these could do to the forward of the least African country. You seem like one that would be open to researches so, I’ll leave you to go see how that term has influenced most nations in a way to hamper growth.

Who told you that Nigeria is the most corrupt set of people in the world? In as much as we have bad people everywhere, there are also good and reputable people in the Nigerian society.
Look at how sweet and peaceful Switzerland is, are you telling me that there is no corrupt person there? just as @crypto Library had said it's not only Nigeria, it's a worldwide desease that needs to be purge out of our system.

This is not just happening in Nigeria it's a common problem in all of third-world countries. If you visit the top list of corrupted countries then you will find some common things on all them is curruption what you have already mentioned and also those are Third world countries.
And I also think that the first and main obstacle to the development of a nation and country is the corruption of that country. Mainly when it spreads among the majority of the people of that country, it can be seen that the same behavior is found among the people in those countries where corruption is at the top. Not only do they blame the government and political leaders for corruption, but those people also lag behind in helping the government.

Rapid growth and development are two essential desires of societies within the third world countries. But corruption had become the only problem to those desires among underdeveloped countries.

Global rating shows African countries especially Nigeria as one of the top most corrupt countries among others including Zimbabwe. The peculiarity of the highest in corruption index is Zimbabwe dollars by all evidence.

In an attempt to be richest among successive governments in the country, currency changes were used to amass excessive wealth. Successive governments introduced higher denominations of currencies up to trillions which caused over 300% inflation rate and complete collapse of the economy. The country has abandoned their currency due to bloated production of the currency in excess, from the onset, in order to allow excessive looting, the monetary policy allowed an excessive inflow and outflow of cash without regular of circulation.

Corruption affects development through inflation, inflation in turn is determined by the greedy forces of production, supply . Those who owns the means of production and distribution monopolizes the price control system to get richer.

So as the low and middle classes struggle to meet the needs provided by the wealthy, they get poorer while , the rich get richer through the exploitative manipulation of the price system. This is one way the development of societies are affected because, only few could be able to get properties and develop themselves.

Corruption in Nigeria and other African countries , corruption runs in a structural pattern . The political class installs people in positions to get returns. In that way , the system is dominated by a clique of allies with one ideology to protect each other's source of wealth.

Corruption in countries are in different forms.

1. Sex for job
2. Buying of job opportunities
3. Nepotism
4. Favouritism
5. Money Laundering or siphoning
6. Bribery.

Among all the fifth item is the major cause of under elopement in Nigeria and other countries. Culture and tradition places a minor role to development in only rural communities where they resist certain development to preserve lands and other historical properties.

In the time past , several ideas have suggested solutions to the problem of underdevelopment in Nigeria. In 2014, the Nigerian Government suggested Restructuring political powers and administration.

So far all the suggestions have failed and obviously, there will not be changes until, the Chinese communist system of administration is adopted.

A public or political leader must not acquire certain properties and nut not be richer than a certain net worth, with a stipulation of death penalty ( death by hanging). This will certainly stop the excessive looting and siphoning of public funds.

What do you think?