The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has claimed that 70 per cent of Nigerians who were approached for a bribe in 2023 refused to comply.
The Chairman of the Commission, Musa Aliyu, stated this on Monday during an ICPC roundtable with state attorneys-general in the northwest region held in Kano.
It was learnt that the event focused on enhancing the commission’s capacity for corruption prevention.
Aliyu highlighted results from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s 2023 Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends Report, noting the frequency of bribery in the northwest and across the country.
He said: “Bribery is most common in public utilities, law enforcement, and administrative services.
“However, despite these challenges, the positive news is that 70 per cent of Nigerians approached for a bribe in 2023 refused to comply on at least one occasion.
“In the North-West, 76 percent of individuals who encountered bribery requests resisted—the highest refusal rate among Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, indicating growing resistance to bribery in the region,” he added.
The ICPC boss stressed the shared responsibility of state and federal governments in combating corruption, stressing the importance of collaboration to build accountable and transparent systems.
Aliyu urged citizens in the northwest to resist bribery demands, reiterating the ICPC’s commitment to using its authority to combat corruption effectively.
He also underscored the significance of partnership in the fight against corruption, referencing pillar five of Nigeria’s National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS II), which focuses on partnerships.
