N1.3tn Laundered Between 2011 And 2015 — Report

A civil society, YIAGA Africa has disclosed that Nigeria lost at
least $582 billion to endemic corruption since independence.

The group further revealed that about N1.3 trillion of public
funds was reportedly laundered between 2011 and 2015 alone.

Programme Manager for Yiaga Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu stated these
during the National Debate Competition on Anti-Corruption in Abuja
recently.

According to Mbamalu, the development is not surprising due to
the fact that the nation ranked 149th of 179 countries on the 2020
Corruption Perception Index of the Transparency International.

She explained that the debate was part of the bounce corruption
project which was launched by Yiaga Africa in 2017 to mobilise 20
million Nigerians in the fight against corruption and demand
accountability.

She maintained that through the debates, the views of young
Nigerians would be harnessed into the fight against corruption as
well as for propagating the values of integrity, transparency and
accountability.

Mbamalu said: “Not only that, a December 2019 report by the
National Bureau of Statistics on the patterns and trends of
corruption in Nigeria revealed that young people are most likely to
give or receive bribes, with at least 60 per cent admitting to
having given bribes. These bribes are given for a variety of
reasons, but most especially to obtain a government service, speed
up a procedure or avoid paying a fine.

“When this data is placed side-by-side with the high rate of
youth unemployment and underemployment which is 42 per cent and 21
per cent in a country which has millions of young people finishing
their studies with no job prospects, it further increases the
pressure on them to offer bribes in order to secure jobs.

“As such, it has become important to engage young Nigerians on
how to fight corruption and enshrine integrity, accountability and
transparency into the fabric of our society, and in our public and
private sectors.

Also, Secretary, National Union of Campus Journalist (NUCJ),
Uchenna Igwe noted that corruption can be noticed in every
challenge facing the country today.

Igwe said corruption is the main reason why Nigeria struggles to
feed and provide jobs for its citizens, as the cost of living
continues on a steady rise.

He said: “Due to the greed and corruption of a few, hundreds of
thousands of lives are lost annually to preventable diseases, crime
and insecurity.

“We must shun and condemn corrupt practices, imbibe good values
and lead good examples in our homes, campuses, hostels, workspaces,
religious and social fellowships, even as we interact with people
in our communities every day.

“We must speak out and speak up. Then, we must also walk the
talk. Corruption will not budge if we don’t get actively
involved.”

A civil society, YIAGA Africa has disclosed that Nigeria lost at
least $582 billion to endemic corruption since independence.

The group further revealed that about N1.3 trillion of public
funds was reportedly laundered between 2011 and 2015 alone.

Programme Manager for Yiaga Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu stated these
during the National Debate Competition on Anti-Corruption in Abuja
recently.

According to Mbamalu, the development is not surprising due to
the fact that the nation ranked 149th of 179 countries on the 2020
Corruption Perception Index of the Transparency International.

She explained that the debate was part of the bounce corruption
project which was launched by Yiaga Africa in 2017 to mobilise 20
million Nigerians in the fight against corruption and demand
accountability.

She maintained that through the debates, the views of young
Nigerians would be harnessed into the fight against corruption as
well as for propagating the values of integrity, transparency and
accountability.

Mbamalu said: “Not only that, a December 2019 report by the
National Bureau of Statistics on the patterns and trends of
corruption in Nigeria revealed that young people are most likely to
give or receive bribes, with at least 60 per cent admitting to
having given bribes. These bribes are given for a variety of
reasons, but most especially to obtain a government service, speed
up a procedure or avoid paying a fine.

“When this data is placed side-by-side with the high rate of
youth unemployment and underemployment which is 42 per cent and 21
per cent in a country which has millions of young people finishing
their studies with no job prospects, it further increases the
pressure on them to offer bribes in order to secure jobs.

“As such, it has become important to engage young Nigerians on
how to fight corruption and enshrine integrity, accountability and
transparency into the fabric of our society, and in our public and
private sectors.

Also, Secretary, National Union of Campus Journalist (NUCJ),
Uchenna Igwe noted that corruption can be noticed in every
challenge facing the country today.

Igwe said corruption is the main reason why Nigeria struggles to
feed and provide jobs for its citizens, as the cost of living
continues on a steady rise.

He said: “Due to the greed and corruption of a few, hundreds of
thousands of lives are lost annually to preventable diseases, crime
and insecurity.

“We must shun and condemn corrupt practices, imbibe good values
and lead good examples in our homes, campuses, hostels, workspaces,
religious and social fellowships, even as we interact with people
in our communities every day.

“We must speak out and speak up. Then, we must also walk the
talk. Corruption will not budge if we don’t get actively
involved.”