The ICPC has issued a stark warning that Nigeria’s deeply embedded corruption is so extensive that a rigorous enforcement of laws could result in 80% of citizens being jailed, emphasizing the urgent need for tougher penalties and greater public accountability.
Nigeria’s pervasive corruption is so severe that strict application of existing laws could lead to the imprisonment of 80% of the population, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has cautioned. Sakaba Ishaku, the ICPC Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner for Kaduna State, raised the alarm at a local government accountability workshop, stating: “If the laws were to be applied to the latter, about 80 percent of the people you see walking the street freely will be in jail.” He described the corruption as “endemic and deeply entrenched,” citing weak institutions and a lack of accountability as key drivers.
Ishaku lamented that many citizens resist anti-corruption efforts because they benefit personally, adding that “Not everybody wants to hear about fighting corruption.” He also criticized local government chairmen who complete their terms without visible legacy projects and called for stronger legal deterrents against graft. Kaduna State’s Commissioner for Local Government, Sadiq Mamman Legas, agreed with the assessment, noting that public attitudes and the vandalism of infrastructure, like the theft of rural electrification transformers, undermine development despite Nigeria’s vast potential.