In 2023, Nigerians paid more than ₦700 billion in cash bribes to public officials, according to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The bureau reveals that the average cash bribe paid in 2023 was ₦8,284, showing an increase from ₦5,754 in 2019. However, when adjusted for inflation, the average bribe size in 2023 was actually 29 percent smaller than in 2019 in terms of what could be bought with the money.
The total estimated amount of cash bribes paid in 2023 is roughly ₦721 billion, equivalent to US$1.26 billion, and represents 0.35 percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The report also reveals that cash remains the predominant form of bribery, with more than 95 percent of bribes paid in cash or via money transfer. This is a slight increase from 2019, emphasizing the persistent reliance on monetary transactions for bribery.
Public officials continue to request bribes blatantly, although less frequently than in the past. In 2023, direct requests for bribes by public officials accounted for 52 percent of all bribery transactions, down from 60 percent in 2019. Indirect requests constituted 23 percent, while spontaneous payments to expedite procedures made up 9 percent. Interestingly, 8 percent of bribes were given without a prior request as a token of appreciation for services rendered.
The timing of bribe payments has also changed. In 2023, 58 percent of bribes were paid before a service was provided, a significant decrease from 67 percent in 2019. Conversely, 22 percent of bribes were paid after the service, up from 15 percent in 2019.
The shift towards a more retro-active bribing, combined with indirect requests by public officials, may suggest that public officials are becoming less assertive in asking for bribes and could indicate a gradual shift in the power relationship between officials and citizens to the benefit of the later.
Most bribes were paid in public settings, with 35 percent occurring in public officials’ offices and 36 percent in the street. Also 11 percent of bribes were paid in respondents’ homes, while 7 percent took place in public buildings such as restaurants, malls, or stations.
Approximately 87 million bribes were paid in 2023, A notable decline from the 117 million bribes recorded in 2019. This equates to an average of 0.8 bribes per adult, demonstrating a positive trend towards reduced corruption.
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The report also States that around 56 percent of Nigerians had at least one contact with a public official in the 12 months prior to the survey. This represents a reduction in the contact rate since 2019 (63 per cent), which was observed across most types of public officials and across zones.
Contact with public officials remains higher in urban areas (61 per cent) compared with rural areas (52 per cent). In 2023, the largest share of Nigerian citizens had contact with health care professionals and public utilities officers, at 30 per cent and 24 per cent respectively. Police officers came third, with a contact rate of 20 per cent.
“The frequency of bribery is on average, higher in rural areas than in urban areas. In 2023, bribe-payers living in urban areas paid on average 4.5 bribes, while those
living in rural areas paid on average 5.8 bribes,”
“Private sector bribery is increasing, but continues to be less prevalent than in the public sector. The prevalence of bribe payments to private sector actors (such as doctors in private hospitals and employees of private companies) increased significantly, from 6 percent of citizens who had at least one contact with a private sector actor in 2019 to 14 per cent in 2023. The increase in private sector bribery between 2019 and 2023 was observed across all regions and all types of private employees.
“Despite this increase, the prevalence of bribery in the public sector remains approximately twice as high as in the private sector. Furthermore, the contact rate of citizens with the public sector is also about twice (56 per cent) as high as the contact with private sector actors (28 per cent).
“The contact rate of citizens with the public sector is about twice as high as the contact with private sector actors 56% Public sector 28%,”
The NBS survey highlights the persistent challenge of corruption in Nigeria and underscores the need for continued efforts to combat bribery and promote transparency in public services.
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