CORRUPTION AND ITS EFFECT ON NATION-BUILDING: A CASE STUDY OF NIGERIA FROM 1999-2019

Abstract

Corruption is a concept that affects all societies. It is present in all nations and does not relate to a particular nation. The universalist nature of corruption has made it inherently difficult for nations around the world to record serious development, growth, nor improvement. Although corruption is present in all parts of the world, some countries record higher levels of corruption in comparison to other countries, hence, this study seeks to understand the nature of corruption in Nigeria which has often been referred to as a nation with high levels of corruption. Corruption in Nigeria is visible in all sectors of the country, for this reason, the effects of corruption are seen in every part of the nation. This study focuses on the influence of corruption in Nigeria’s nation-building process. This is mostly borne out of the fact that Nigeria is a multi-ethnic nation with diverse cultures, hence, with such high records of corruption, nation-building is bound to be affected. The study is concluded from interviews conducted amongst 6 professors and 4 members of the Nigerian House of Representatives selected from the three major ethnic groups in the country. This selection has been done to ensure that various ideas and sentiments of the members of these ethnic groups are collected. Similarly, the study focuses on a period between 1999- present time as this signified the fourth republic of the Nigerian nation.