A new report by Chatham House has warned that corruption remains deeply entrenched in Nigeria’s public and political life, crippling democracy, stifling economic growth, and eroding citizens’ trust in state institutions.
Despite more than two decades of reform promises and repeated anti-corruption pledges, Nigeria still ranks among the world’s 40 most corrupt countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. It also sits 35th from bottom globally on the World Bank’s “control of corruption” index.
The findings, released on August 28, 2025, under the Social Norms and Accountable Governance (SNAG) project supported by the MacArthur Foundation, show that corruption continues to touch every layer of Nigeria’s public life — from politics to policing, procurement to the judiciary.
Although Nigeria is Africa’s fourth-largest economy, the report highlights that over 54 percent of citizens still live in poverty. It blames corruption for draining billions of naira away from schools, hospitals and infrastructure, fuelling inequality and reinforcing underdevelopment.
While Nigerians overwhelmingly reject corruption in principle — 88 percent said it was unacceptable for a police officer to demand a bribe — many still pay bribes or cut corners out of necessity. Chatham House describes this contradiction as “the price for getting things done” in a dysfunctional system.
The report also underscores how corruption has undermined trust in state institutions. The police, judiciary and government at all levels rank among the least trusted, reflecting widespread perceptions of bribery, extortion and political capture. In contrast, religious leaders and traditional rulers continue to enjoy higher levels of credibility. In some states, Nigerians say they are more likely to trust a neighbour to return a lost valuable than a public official to act honestly.
Chatham House links the persistence of corruption to weak institutions, patronage politics, underfunded anti-corruption agencies, and decades of impunity sustained by both military and civilian elites. “Low trust in governance reflects Nigerians’ lived experiences of inadequate services, unfulfilled promises and systemic corruption,” the report notes.
Yet, the study identifies glimmers of hope in Nigeria’s strong community trust and grassroots reform efforts. Initiatives like Accountability Lab Nigeria’s Integrity Icon campaign, which celebrates honest public servants, and the School of Politics, Policy and Governance, which trains ethical leaders, were cited as potential pathways to shift norms and rebuild accountability.
“Corruption may appear inevitable in Nigeria, but it does not need to be,” the report concludes. It stresses that only coordinated, credible efforts led by trusted figures in government, civil society and business can dismantle Nigeria’s entrenched corruption networks and restore public confidence.
