Corruption is to be found in developing and developed nations. But in countries like Nigeria it is as pervasive as the air we breath. Thus so central, it blocks development. “Fighting corruption” is often just politics. In the West it’s peripheral, and they’re already developed.
There is Asian corruption and there is African corruption. In Asia, it’s 10% kickback and 90% for the project. In Africa it’s the reverse. That’s why Nigeria is littered with uncompleted projects, and some contracts are “awarded” several times by different administrations.
Transparency is the most powerful antidote to corruption. Nigerian govts should make transactional processes electronic and maintain open electronic databases on the current price of everything. Any contract with a markup more than 30% (contractors must make profit!) is fishy.
When I was at @cenbank and we introduced “cash-less” policy and mobile payment systems, many politicians were unhappy. One powerful businessman told a relative to “warn” me that he “can’t pay bribe with Pos o”!
The next most important approaches to fighting corruption are a combination of addressing the value system in our society with massive educational campaigns, impartial accountability, and a massive reduction in the costs of governance.
Finally, we as citizens promote corruption because we celebrate politicians and business persons that wallow in it, and ignore competent candidates with character while voting for corrupt “structures” in elections. What results do you expect when you vote corruption into office?
