NBS says Nigeria paid N721 billion cash as bribe to public officials

According to a survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), approximately N721 billion ($1.26 billion) was paid in cash bribes to public officials in Nigeria in 2023. This amount corresponds to 0.35% of the entire Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria . 

The average cash bribe paid was N8,284, an increase from N5,754 in 2019. However, when adjusted for inflation, the average cash bribe in 2023 was actually 29% smaller than in 2019 in terms of purchasing power . 

Bribes paid in a public official's office and in the street accounted for around 35% and 36% of all paid bribes, respectively. Other locations where bribes were paid include respondents' own homes (11%) and public buildings such as restaurants, malls, or stations (7%) . 

The survey also revealed that in 2023, each bribe payer in Nigeria paid an average of 5.1 bribes in the twelve months prior to the survey, a slight decrease from 5.4 bribes in 2019. It is estimated that some 87 million bribes were paid in 2023, equivalent to an average of 0.8 bribes per adult . 

The frequency of bribery was found to be higher in rural areas than in urban areas. In 2023, bribe-payers living in urban areas paid an average of 4.5 bribes, while those living in rural areas paid an average of 5.8 bribes . 

Out of all Nigerian citizens who had at least one contact with a public official in the twelve months prior to the 2023 survey, 27% paid a bribe to a public official. This represents a minor but statistically significant decrease from 2019, when the figure stood at 29% . 

The survey also found that 70% of Nigerians who were asked to pay a bribe in 2023 refused to do so on at least one occasion. The bribery refusal rate was highest in the North-west (at 76%), although all zones recorded refusal rates above 60% . 

The NBS report suggests that bribery is becoming less accepted in Nigeria, with fewer citizens reporting suffering negative consequences after refusing bribe requests in 2023 (38%) compared with 2019 (49%). This suggests that Nigerians feel increasingly empowered to confront corrupt officials without fear of repercussions .