Nigeria not corrupt as world thinks, very safe too – Omokri

Reno Omokri, Nigeria's Ambassador-designate to Mexico, has claimed that Nigeria is not as corrupt as many people outside the country believe it to be. According to Omokri, global corruption rankings fail to accurately represent Nigeria's culture and realities. He made these remarks on Channels Television's Sunday Politics, stating that Nigeria's corruption perception rating has improved under President Bola Tinubu's administration, but he emphasized that global organizations often judge Nigeria using standards that do not consider local cultural practices.

Omokri pointed out the tradition of showing appreciation to public officials who perform their duties well in Nigeria. While Transparency International and similar organizations may view such gestures as corruption, Omokri argued that they have long existed in Nigeria even before colonial rule. He emphasized that showing gratitude to public officials is not corruption but rather a cultural practice.

The ambassador-designate also challenged the notion that Nigeria is unsafe, citing the annual Detty December festivities in Lagos. He noted that every year, 1.2 million tourists attend the event without any reported deaths or injuries, making it the biggest single tourism event in Africa. Omokri urged Nigeria to stop allowing foreign organizations to define its image and instead tell its own story, warning that if external perceptions continue, Nigeria will be consistently seen as poor and backward.