Nigeria Needs Moral Reawakening to Defeat Corruption, Says NBA Anti-Corruption Chair

Nigeria cannot overcome corruption solely through laws and enforcement agencies; a fundamental moral reawakening is essential to reverse decades of institutional decay, stated Babafemi Badejo, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Anti-Corruption Committee. Speaking in Lagos, Badejo argued that despite established anti-corruption bodies like the EFCC and ICPC, the fight against graft continues to face deep structural and social resistance.

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Corruption in Nigeria has evolved from a deviance to a norm, from an exception to an expectation, and from a secretive transaction to a publicly celebrated achievement.

Concerns over weak institutions, selective enforcement, and societal tolerance of unexplained wealth shape public perception, Badejo noted. He described corruption as having evolved from deviance to a norm, from an exception to an expectation, and from a secretive transaction to a publicly celebrated achievement. "Corruption in Nigeria has evolved from a deviance to a norm, from an exception to an expectation, and from a secretive transaction to a publicly celebrated achievement," he said.

Badejo highlighted that families, religious institutions, and communities often celebrate wealth without questioning its acquisition, thereby weakening society's moral compass. Individuals widely believed to have acquired wealth corruptly are frequently honored with leadership positions due to their financial contributions. "When society consistently rewards the fruits of corruption while neglecting integrity, corruption becomes normalised, socially endorsed and actively encouraged," he stated, describing this trend as "moral anaesthesia."

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When society consistently rewards the fruits of corruption while neglecting integrity, corruption becomes normalised, socially endorsed and actively encouraged.

While acknowledging Nigeria's extensive legal framework against corruption, Badejo stressed that prosecution alone cannot succeed if society continues to admire corrupt public officials. "The EFCC can arrest a thousand corrupt officials, but if society celebrates such people as heroes, the war is already lost," he warned. He asserted that laws are most effective when they reinforce existing moral values, cautioning that countries with weak ethical foundations require unsustainable levels of enforcement.

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The EFCC can arrest a thousand corrupt officials, but if society celebrates such people as heroes, the war is already lost.