A recent report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveals that Nigerians are still paying a significant number of bribes to public and private officials. Despite a slight drop from 2019, the numbers remain high, with 87 million bribes reported in 2023.
The NBS, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), found that 27 percent of Nigerians interacting with public officials paid bribes in 2023, a decrease from 63 percent in 2019. While there’s been a small reduction in the average number of bribes per person, from 5.4 in 2019 to 5.1 in 2023, the issue persists.
“Overall, it is estimated that a total of roughly NGN 721 billion (US$1.26 billion) was paid in cash bribes to public officials in Nigeria in 2023, corresponding to 0.35 per cent of the entire Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria,” the report stated.
The report also highlights a geographic disparity, with rural residents paying an average of 5.8 bribes compared to 4.5 in urban areas, and most bribes being paid in cash or through money transfers.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
