- The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed that Nigerians paid bribes worth N721 billion in the year 2023
- The agency disclosed this in one of its report
- Nigerians exclaimed at the figure, with some giving up on the hopes of fighting corruption in the country
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said that in 2023, Nigerians paid an estimated N721 billion in cash as bribes to public officials.
This was contained in their survey report titled “Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends” which was released on July 11, 2024. According to the report, more than 95 per cent of all the bribes Nigerians paid in 2023 were in monetary form.
Nigerians paid N721 billion in bribes to govt officials
The report read in part: “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 per cent of the entire Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria.
“In 2023, bribes paid in a public official’s office and the street accounted for around 35 and 36 per cent of all paid bribes, respectively. 11 per cent of bribes were paid in the respondents’ own homes, while 7 per cent were paid in public buildings such as restaurants, malls, or stations.
“In 2023, the largest share of Nigerian citizens that had contact with health care professionals and public utility officers for bribery was at 30 per cent and 24 per cent respectively. Police officers came third, with a contact rate of 20 per cent,” it added.
Furthermore, according to the NBS survey, the average cash bribe paid was N8,284, which represents an increase from the 2019 figure of N5,754, without accounting for inflation.
Nigerians react to NBS survey on cash bribes
TheRadar compiled reactions of Nigerians to the NBS survey report on the bribes collected by government officials in Nigeria:
@itsBolarge stated: “EFCC and the NP shouting fight corruption without data can derive intelligence and insight from this material from NBS.”
@Auwaljunior expressed: “The way we deal with figure in our country is funny, 1.3 billion dollars as bribe in 12 months.”
@gkingii commented: “A thriving market with ridiculously high margins.”
@UgonnaChidiebe1 advised: “They shouldn’t forget to pay their tithe.”
@tunmise26 stated: “After General use 8 years to fight kwaropshun.”
@Shimsun211 expressed: “This is why corruption must carry the death penalty & the total dispossession of the guilty of all their assets.”
@KingStarGlobals: “Oluwa oo.”
@BOLMOJOLA reacted that: “The NBS itself probably doesn't trust this data. Someone sat in one of their air-conditioned offices at the Central Business District, Abuja, and wondered aloud, "How much do you think state officials got as bribes in 2023?" "Let's just write $1.3 billion." "Sounds fine."”
Nigerians, government reacts to New York Times report on Nigeria's economy
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the report done by the New York Times publication, which analysed Nigeria's dire socio-economic conditions, provoked the Federal Government but impressed the citizens.
According to the report, Nigerians were experiencing the worst economic crisis in decades, with prices of food, medicine, and petrol too high for many to afford, and the government making it difficult for businesses operate.
