Corruption: A Threat to Sustainable Socioeconomic Development in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria, a country highly favoured by God is blessed with both human and natural resources. She has a population of over 170 million people and can boast of abundant crude oil and gas reserves, large mineral deposits, a large expanse of fertile agricultural lands, and an enabling environment conducive for the propagation of biodiversity. However, corruption is her disease and it has a long history since her independence in 1960. The military junta that lasted in Nigeria for years brought the economy of the country into ruins. The extent of Nigeria’s socioeconomic failure due to corruption can be easily recognised when we compare her with other huge, populous, ethnically diverse oil-rich nations. The idea of sustainable socioeconomic development is conceived to help create healthy societies that can sustain the present generation as well as those that follow through the judicious use of economic, environmental and cultural resources. This study is exclusively a qualitative one based on content analysis of secondary data; information has been extracted from already available sources like books, previous research studies and journal articles. From the findings of the study, it is revealed that corruption is a canker worm in the whole spheres of life of Nigeria.  The study strongly recommends that in order to get rid of corruption in the society, there is need to change the mindset of the public. It agrees with Dhull (2014) who states that the resistance to commit offences should be developed from one’s conscience; hence inculcating moral values in people right from infancy. This candidly would provide remedy to corruption leading to increased quality of life of the people; hence, sustainable socioeconomic development.

Keywords: Corruption, threat, sustainability, socioeconomic development, Nigeria