ICPC: 80% of Nigerians Would Be Jailed If Anti-Corruption Laws Were Fully Enforced

ICPC: 80% of Nigerians Would Be Jailed If Anti-Corruption Laws Were Fully Enforced

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has issued a stark warning that Nigeria’s corruption crisis is so severe that strict enforcement of existing anti-graft laws could result in 80 percent of citizens landing in jail.

This alarming revelation was made by the ICPC Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner for Kaduna State, Sakaba Ishaku, during a capacity-building workshop on local government accountability organised by the Kaduna State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Speaking on the theme “Accountability in Local Government: A Springboard for National Development,” Ishaku described corruption in Nigeria as endemic and deeply rooted across all sectors, fuelled by weak institutions, poor accountability systems and entrenched socio-economic challenges.

According to him, if anti-corruption laws were enforced to the letter, the majority of Nigerians “walking the streets freely” would be imprisoned. He stressed that massive wealth accumulation in the country is rarely free of criminality, noting that even inherited wealth often has questionable origins.

READ ALSO:

• FEC okays purchase of 200 electric buses for NADDC
• Lasaco Assurance Set for Growth as Shareholders Okay N25bn Capital Injection
• Accord Clears Adeleke as Sole Aspirant for Osun Governorship Primary

Ishaku lamented that many citizens resist anti-corruption reforms because corrupt practices offer personal benefits. He criticised local government chairmen who complete their tenures without any visible achievements, questioning their suitability for leadership positions.

The commissioner also called for tougher penalties for corruption, arguing that current punishments are too lenient to deter offenders. “Where someone steals N2 billion and gets just five years in prison, that is a slap on the wrist,” he said, urging a review of existing laws to enhance their deterrent effect.

He encouraged Kaduna State to adopt compulsory project monitoring mechanisms similar to the ICPC’s Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Initiative, which has returned many absentee contractors to site.

In his remarks, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sadiq Mamman Legas, echoed the concerns, blaming both leadership failures and negative public attitudes for stalled development. He noted that Kaduna, despite being a major economic hub in Northern Nigeria, continues to struggle due to vandalism and poor civic responsibility.

Legas revealed that the ministry saved “over N8–9 billion” through rural electrification repairs in Zonkwa, Makarfi, Ikara, Kudan and Soba, only for residents to vandalise the newly restored infrastructure. He said development cannot thrive where communities destroy government investments.

Both officials called for stronger collaboration, improved public enlightenment and deeper community participation to ensure the sustainability of public projects and the protection of government assets.

ICPC: 80% of Nigerians Would Be Jailed If Anti-Corruption Laws Were Fully Enforced