Tackling the Corruption Epidemic in Nigeria

Abstract

Several scholars have addressed the corruption pandemic in Nigeria from different perspectives ranging from general overviews to in-depth analyses (Coolidge and Rose-Ackerman, 1996; Herbst and Olukoshi, 1994; Lewis, 1996; Olowu, 1993). These works also range from theoretical expositions to comparative studies. In addition, the problem of corruption in Nigeria has been widely tackled in reports submitted to successive governments, and also by the Nigerian press. Yet, no solution appears to be in sight. Rather, the incidence of corrupt practices has tended to increase in all spheres of Nigerian society over the years. In fact, corruption as a social phenomenon has become institutionalized (Osaba, 1996).