Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has reported that corruption is more frequent in Nigeria’s rural areas than in urban centers.
Speaking at the International Law Conference in Zaria, Kaduna State, Aliyu underscored that corruption continues to be a major obstacle to Nigeria’s development, undermining public trust and stifling economic progress.
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He emphasized that the impact of corruption is particularly severe in rural areas, where bribes are more common than in urban environments. In 2023 alone, approximately 87 million bribes amounting to N700 billion were paid, with rural regions showing a higher frequency of bribery compared to cities.
Aliyu pointed out that a recent survey by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics ranked corruption as the fourth most critical issue facing the country in 2023, following cost of living, insecurity, and unemployment. However, he noted some progress: the rate of citizens reporting bribe payments increased from 3.6 percent in 2019 to 8.6 percent in 2023, indicating growing awareness and willingness to combat corruption.
The ICPC Chairman also addressed issues of abuse within the public service, including sexual harassment in tertiary institutions. He cited a 2018 World Bank survey revealing that about 70 percent of female graduates reported harassment by peers or instructors.
Aliyu stressed the importance of human rights and social justice as essential elements of a fair society. He called for ongoing judicial education to tackle cyber-related crimes and emphasized that addressing corruption, human rights abuses, and digital threats requires a united effort and innovative approaches.
