Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
Volume 23, No. 2, 2025
DOI: 10.36108/ijss/5202.32.0210
Corruption as a Survivalist Strategy in Nigeria
David Olom Nkpe
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abuja, Nigeria
Abstract
Corruption remains a global phenomenon that challenges socio-economic development and erodes public trust. In Nigeria, despite the progress made in the fight against corruption as the recent improvement in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index indicates, corruption is still deeply entrenched and widespread with multi-dimensional implications for socio-economic development. This paper aims to investigate a relatively under-examined aspect of corruption in Nigeria, from the perpetrators’ perspectives, as a survivalist strategy. The paper adopts rational choice and neutralisation theories by targeting participants in Abuja. The qualitative approach was used and focus group discussions as well as key informant interviews were used to generate data among the purposively selected participants. The generated data were analysed through thematic and content analysis method. Findings indicate that corruption is seen as a way of life, which motivates and supports individuals’ involvement in it. The paper, therefore, recommended that specific and effective anti-corruption policies and interventions geared towards perpetrators and the social environment be implemented.
Keywords: Corruption, perpetrators, anti-corruption, neutralisation theory, Nigeria