In 2023, Nigerians reportedly paid approximately N721 billion in cash bribes to public officials, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The NBS, in its July 2024 report titled ‘Corruption In Nigeria: Patterns And Trends’, conducted its third survey on corruption experienced by the population. It revealed that 27 percent of Nigerian citizens who had interacted with a public official in the preceding 12 months admitted to paying a bribe.
The average cash bribe amount was reported to be N8,284 in 2023, marking an increase from N5,754 in 2019, though this rise does not factor in inflation. Adjusted for inflation, the real value of the average cash bribe in 2023 was 29 percent lower than that of 2019.
Overall, the estimated total of N721 billion (approximately US$1.26 billion) in cash bribes constituted about 0.35 percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.
Bribes paid in public officials’ offices and on the streets accounted for 35 percent and 36 percent of all bribes respectively. Eleven percent of bribes were paid in respondents’ homes, while 7 percent were paid in public spaces like restaurants, malls, or stations.
Regarding specific sectors, in 2023, 30 percent of bribery incidents involved healthcare professionals, followed by public utility officers at 24 percent, and police officers at 20 percent.
