Corruption, violent crime on the increase in Nigeria – Report

IG of Nigerian Police Force, M.D Abubakar

Corruption and violent crime have been on the increase in Nigeria in the last two years notwithstanding efforts by government and security agencies, a report has said.

This and other statistics on crime rate, extent and patterns of criminal victimisation in Nigeria were contained in the 2011 National Crime and Safety survey report by CLEEN Foundation, an Abuja-based non-governmental organisation (NGO).

Presenting the report to the media and other stakeholders in Abuja, the Executive Director CLEEN Foundation, Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, said the survey also revealed the upsurge in bribery and corruption among public officials as one out of every four respondents attested to paying bribe or being asked to pay bribe before services could be rendered to them.

He explained that in terms of trend, demand for bribe had increased from 20 per cent in 2011 to 24 per cent in 2012, just as crime was more prevalent among the police which had 76 per cent, Immigration 66 per cent, Customs 65 per cent, prison officials 52 per cent, Road Safety officials 51per cent, EFCC 49 per cent and the SSS 47per cent.

The survey, he said, also showed that it was highest in states like Kebbi (61%), Ebonyi (50%), Kwara (45%), Ondo (43%), Edo (42%), Bauchi (39%), FCT (37%), Ekiti (34%), Sokoto (34%) and Gombe (34%), far above national average with the lowest incidents recorded in Taraba, Adamawa and Kaduna which were 10 per cents respectively.

Chukwuma said respondents in the survey which was conducted in 36 states and Abuja between June and July 2011, with a total national sample size of 11, 518 comprising 50 per cent male and female of 18 years and above, identified government insincerity, lack of funds and facility, weak judiciary and corruption of EFCC and ICPC official themselves as constraints against anti-corruption agencies.

The survey, he added, showed a steady rise in armed robbery from 11 percent in 2011 to 17 percent in 2012, also indicating that incidents of armed robbery were more prevalent in Edo, Anambra, Ondo states. Jigawa and Kwara recorded the lowest, however, theft of mobile phones declined from 50 per cent in 201 1 to 47 per cent in 2012, it has remained the crime most committed in the country with all the states except three recording over 20 per cent of the crime.