Corruption Remains Most Significant Impediment to Nigeria’s Development...ICPC

By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna

Corruption remains one of the most significant impediments to Nigeria’s development as it erodes trust in public institutions, undermines the rule of law, and stifles economic growth, the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, declared in Zaria today.

Aliyu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), spoke when he delivered a keynote address at the ongoing International Law Conference organised by the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The ICPC chairman, who spoke on “Law and Contemporary Societal Issues: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities”, also pointed out that corruption is not only a legal issue but also a social problem that requires a comprehensive and sustained approach.

According to a recent survey by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, he explained, corruption ranked fourth among the most critical problems affecting the country in 2023, after cost of living, insecurity and unemployment.

Aliyu revealed that in 2023, an estimated 87 million bribes amounting to N700 billion were paid and that the frequency of bribes is higher in rural areas than in urban areas.

“Despite these challenges, we are making progress. The rate of citizens reporting bribe payments to official authorities increased from 3.6 percent in 2019 to 8.6 percent in 2023. This is a testament to the growing awareness and willingness of Nigerians to fight corruption”, he further said.

The ICPC chair stressed that abuse of office also remained a form of corrupt practice common in many sectors of the Nigerian public service, saying that sexual harassment is a significant issue in Nigerian tertiary institutions, with studies indicating a high prevalence among female students.

He said that according to 2018 World Bank survey, approximately 70 percent of female graduates from these institutions reported experiencing sexual harassment by classmates or instructors.

Aliyu described human right and social justice as the cornerstones of a fair society ensuring dignity, freedom, and equal opportunities for all.

“Corruption undermines these rights, breeding inequality and oppression. The ICPC is committed to upholding human rights and promoting social justice by combating corruption and ensuring access to essential services”, he said.

The ICPC boss, who also spoke on digital transformation and cybersecurity, urged that the judiciary needs continuous education and training to effectively adjudicate cyber-related cases such as online fraud, sexual extortion, cybersquatting, and unlawful interception of communications.

Aliyu concluded that tackling corruption, human rights, digital threats, and environmental issues presented major challenges and exciting opportunities and that these hurdles could be overcome by uniting efforts, embracing innovative technologies, and championing justice.

Breaking: ASUU suspends 2-week warning strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has suspended its two-week warning strike it declared last week across all public universities in the country. The union announced the suspension on Wednesday at a press conference held at its headquarters in Abuja. President of ASUU, Chris Piwuna, who read a prepared speech before newsmen, explained that the development followed intervention by the Senate and some other well-meaning Nigerians. However, he sad the National Executive Council of the Union resolved to give the government a one-month window to address all contending areas.

JUST IN: If Tinubu Had Told Me, I Wouldn’t Have Agreed To Rivers State Of Emergency Rule – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated that he would not have agreed with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu if he had discussed his move to declare a State of Emergency in Rivers State. Wike noted that he is not in conflict with the suspended Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara He stressed his opposition on the State of Emergency rule, stating that only the President knows the right time to lift it. While speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, Wike remarked that Fubara has permitted himself to be manipulated by his adversaries to oppose him. The FCT Minister said: “ I made it clear that this impunity will not stand, so what is happening in PDP is what I call undertakers because I see no reason why you will put yourself under that kind of crisis. “I don’t have any crisis with him (Fubara). I’m not the President who declared a State of Emergency; if Mr President had called me, I wouldn’t have agreed to the State of Emergenc...

Woman Burned to Death, Accused of Kidnapping 7yrs Old Boy in Delta

By Tessy ogbemi An angry mob set ablaze a woman accused in a failed child kidnapping attempt in Agbarho community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. The incident happened on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. An eyewitness disclosed at the scene of the incident at Ekwvere Road claimed that the woman hid the seven year old boy she allegedly abducted in a sack, adding that she was even carrying a Bible on one hand. Community sources said some residents in the area accosted the lady when they observed the way she was dragging the sack, to know what she had in it. "She was unstable when they asked her to disclose what she was carrying in the sack. When the bag was forced open, they found a seven year old child in it. They shouted and it attracted a large crowd,” a source said. It was gathered that the angry mob immediately brought a used tyre to the scene, which they forced down her neck after beating her to a pulp. “The lady and the tyre we...

FocalPoint Reports

Search This Blog