Busted: Nigerian public servants received N721bn in bribe in 2023

• A United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the National Bureau of Statistics's report says public officials in Nigeria collected N721 billion in cash as bribes in 2023
• According to the UN report, the amount collected as bribes in the year in review is a cumulative 0.35% of Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
• The report further revealed that bribery is more prevalent in rural area than the urban Nigerian communities

A recent report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that Nigerian public officials received an estimated N721 billion (approximately $1.26 billion) in cash bribes in 2023.

This amount represents 0.35% of Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and indicates a significant increase in corruption.

Public servants received N721bn in bribes in 2023 Photo Credit: @officialABAT, @LegendaryJoe
Source: Twitter

Average bribe Nigerians paid in 2023

The average cash bribe paid was N8,284, slightly higher than the N5,754 reported in 2019. However, when adjusted for inflation, the 2023 average bribe size was actually 29% smaller than in 2019.

PAY ATTENTION: Share your outstanding story with our editors! Please reach us through info@corp.legit.ng!

Cash remained the preferred method of bribery, accounting for over 95% of all bribes paid in 2023. Other forms of bribes included food and drink, animals, exchange for services, and valuables.

Despite the prevalence of bribery, the report found that 70% of Nigerians refused to pay bribes on at least one occasion in 2023, indicating a growing unwillingness to engage in corrupt practices.

Corruption reducing in Nigeria, UN report

The report also noted a decrease in the acceptance of bribery to fast-track administrative procedures, from 29% in 2019 to 23% in 2023, suggesting a shift in public attitudes towards corruption.

The report reads in part:

“The frequency of bribery is, on average, higher in rural areas than in urban areas. In 2023, bribe-payers living in urban areas paid on average 4.5 bribes, while those living in rural areas paid on average 5.8 bribes.”

Source: Legit.ng