Customs, ICPC and the Corruption War in Nigeria, By Abdulsalam Mahmud

Customs, ICPC and the Corruption War in Nigeria, By Abdulsalam Mahmud

Corruption is one malaise that has stunted Nigeria’s growth and prosperity. The cankerworm has also damaged the nation’s reputation in the eyes of the world. Some years back, a British Prime Minister described our dear country as a “fantastically corrupt” land.

Despite the efforts of successive governments to tackle graft in public service especially, Nigeria’s rating in the Corruption Perception Index, CTI, is appalling. In a report last month, the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, disclosed that over N700 billion was paid in cash as bribes by citizens to public officials in 2023.

In its report, titled, ‘NBS Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends’, the bureau said 70 percent of Nigerians declined to pay bribes at least once in 2023. The report said about 76 percent of those who rejected bribes are in the north-west — the highest across the geo-political zones.

“The average cash bribe paid was 8,284 Nigerian Naira (NGN). While the nominal average cash bribe size increased since 2019 (from NGN 5,754), this does not account for inflation,” the report reads. “The inflation-adjusted average cash bribe in 2023 was actually 29 percent smaller than in 2019 in terms of what could be bought with the money.

“Overall, it is estimated that a total of roughly NGN 721 billion (US$1.26 billion) was paid in cash bribes to public officials in Nigeria in 2023, corresponding to 0.35 per cent of the entire Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria.”

The NBS report indicated that 52 percent of all bribes paid to public officials were demanded by them, adding that indirect bribes collected accounted for 23 percent. The data bureau said over 95 percent of all bribes paid in 2023 were paid in the form of cash or money transfer.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are the primary agencies tasked with leading the anti-corruption war in Nigeria. But the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has joined this fight with the aim of strengthening the battle against graft.

To this end, Comptroller General of Customs Adewale Bashir Adeniyi recently led the NCS management team in an official visit to ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu. This visit was part of Adeniyi’s initiative to enhance collaboration between the Nigeria Customs and other security and law enforcement agencies, and to develop proactive strategies to combat corruption.

During the meeting, Adeniyi sought ICPC’s cooperation to address corruption among non-compliant traders and officers, stating, “Our collaboration with the ICPC is crucial because we view the ICPC as a key ally in the fight against corruption.”

Discussing his achievements in revenue generation since taking office in 2023, Adeniyi noted, “We have achieved a 70% increase in revenue over the past year, addressed our security mandates, and are committed to keeping illicit actors out of our borders.”

He added, “We also believe it is essential to review areas susceptible to corruption and integrity gaps ourselves, to address these issues and restore the country’s reputation in terms of trade facilitation and ease of doing business.”

Adeniyi expressed optimism that a strong alliance with ICPC would simplify their efforts to combat corruption, stating, “This is why we need to position the ICPC among the key government agencies with which we are collaborating.”

He further praised ICPC’s efforts in combating corruption and acknowledged the need for ICPC’s assistance in addressing corruption and integrity issues within the NCS. “We believe a partnership with ICPC will instill greater transparency in our system. By signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Nigeria Customs Service and ICPC, we anticipate significant improvements in specific areas.”

In response, Adamu welcomed Adeniyi and his team, commending their initiative to collaborate with ICPC to tackle corruption. He highlighted ICPC’s successes in preventing corruption and fostering partnerships to ensure a prosperous Nigeria.

Adamu stated, “The responsibility to enhance the nation’s image rests with us. Only by cleansing Nigeria and collaborating with the NCS can we achieve greatness.” He also emphasized the importance of capacity building for traders and stakeholders to prevent actions detrimental to the national economy.

Without equivocation, a new chapter in Nigeria’s fight against corruption is set to be heralded with this collaboration between the NCS and ICPC. However, the NCS and ICPC can only implement effective strategies that will not only address corruption but also enhance Nigeria’s standing on the global stage, through combining their resources and expertise.