Title: The Causes Of Corruption In African States And Anti-Corruption Strategies: A Study Of Economic And Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) In Nigeria
Authors: HUSSAINA SANI, DANLADI MIKE SALEH, SULE HABILA
Volume: 10
Issue: 9
Pages: 300-306
Publication Date: 2026/09/28
Abstract:
Corruption remains one of the most persistent challenges confronting governance, democratic consolidation and sustainable development in African states. Despite the proliferation of anti-corruption laws, specialised agencies, financial reforms and international conventions, corruption continues to affect public administration, political accountability, resource allocation and citizens' confidence in government institutions. This paper critically examines the causes of corruption in African states anti-corruption strategies, with particular emphasis on Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) between 2020 and 2025. The paper adopts a qualitative documentary research design and relies on scholarly literature, official reports, legislation and institutional data from the EFCC, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Transparency International. Institutional Theory constitutes the principal analytical framework. The paper argues that corruption in African states should not be reduced to individual greed or moral deficiency because it is reproduced through weak institutions, political patronage, excessive discretion, opaque procurement, weak judicial accountability, electoral financing and socio-economic inequalities. Evidence from Nigeria indicates that the EFCC recorded significant achievements in investigation, prosecution, convictions, asset recovery and preventive initiatives during 2020-2025. Nevertheless, Nigeria's Corruption Perceptions Index score improved only marginally from 25/100 in 2020 to 26/100 in 2025. The paper therefore argues that the EFCC has demonstrated considerable operational effectiveness but remains structurally constrained by the broader political and institutional environment. Sustainable corruption control consequently requires moving beyond an enforcement-centred strategy towards institutional reforms that strengthen accountability, transparency, prevention, judicial effectiveness and the independence of anti-corruption institutions.