By Muhammad Mamman
Nigeria’s anti-graft chief has linked the country’s worsening insecurity, poverty, and hunger to decades of mismanagement and embezzlement by public officials.
Speaking at the 12th annual conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) in Delta State, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman Ola Olukoyode said corruption remains the root cause of Nigeria’s socio-economic crisis.
Olukoyode, represented by senior EFCC official Williams Oseghale, warned that unemployment, kidnapping, hunger, and low life expectancy all stemmed from the “misapplication and embezzlement” of national resources by leaders entrusted to manage them.
“The onus is on us as individuals to be accountable, transparent, and committed to due process,” Olukoyode said. “Every challenge around Nigeria’s development can be traced to corruption.”
The EFCC boss described it as “worrisome” that Nigeria is widely seen as a country with entrenched corruption and impunity, urging the media to step up investigative journalism to expose fraud and abuse of office.
He stressed that good governance would only be possible if citizens collectively embraced transparency and accountability.
ACSPN president Rotimi Olatunji added that corruption in Nigeria spans “petty graft” among lower ranks to “grand corruption” involving politicians and business elites. He warned that its corrosive effects stifle economic growth, scare off investment, and undermine sustainable development.
The conference, sponsored by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), brought together academics, media professionals, and policy experts, including Nosa Owens-Ibie, Daniel Awodiya, G. G. Darah, Ayobami Ojebode, Paul Bebenimibo, Kayode Okunade, and Stella Okunna.
