Utomi warns corruption costing Nigerians lives

Political economist Pat Utomi and Senior Advocate of Nigeria Jibrin Okutepa have warned that corruption is costing Nigerians their lives. Utomi highlighted the impact of corruption on essential public services such as hospitals, roads, education, and electricity. He argued that when public funds are stolen, ordinary Nigerians suffer the consequences, including the loss of lives due to inadequate healthcare, unsafe roads, poor education, and unreliable electricity.

Okutepa criticized Nigerians who condemn corruption but secretly hope to benefit from it themselves. He stated that the desire to profit from corruption undermines efforts to tackle the issue, as some people oppose it only when they are excluded from its benefits. Okutepa also pointed out that public condemnation of corruption is often selective, depending on whether the accused person is a political opponent or someone with whom the accuser has personal or ethnic ties.

Both Utomi and Okutepa emphasized that changing societal attitudes towards corruption and strengthening institutions is crucial for lasting reform. They warned that replacing public officeholders without addressing these societal issues would not guarantee lasting change.