Breaking the Cycle of Corruption in Nigeria: The Myth and Reality

Abstract

Corruption is been the restriction to legitimacy, democratic stability, socio-economic and political development in Africa and indeed in Nigeria. Several political regimes had contributed to the spread of corruption and its various manifestations in Nigeria. In curbing the menace, several institutional mechanisms were invented by various governments. These instrumentalities have their impacts in Nigeria but there is yet more to be done. Therefore, how can Nigeria be free from wide spread corruption? Prebendal theory is used to explain the trend of corruption in Nigeria. The methodology utilises afrobarometer data to show the reality and the way forward from the menace. The paper concludes that the war against corruption can be successfully fought from both the public (prosecution) and private (psyche) realms.