Was the EFCC Boss Right About Corruption Being the Cause of the Coronavirus?
The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu caused quite a stir when he said “Corruption is the biggest strategy to humankind. Your Excellency, corruption is worse than all the diseases now running about.
“And I strongly believe, Your Excellency, that even the coronavirus is caused by corruption,”
His declaration earned him some applause from the crowd at the passing out parade of 281 cadets of the EFCC Detective Inspector Course-5, at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, on Tuesday.
First, let us get the facts straight. Could it be that the coronavirus was indeed caused by corruption? By the Nigerian propensity to cut corners, subvert the law and take bribes? If it was, the outbreak would have most certainly started from the office of some government agency where justice is being subverted or on the streets where police officers skim money off citizens. But instead, it started in Wuhan, China. It is possible that our corruption has gone international and caused trouble overseas. It would not be the first time but it certainly will not be on this scale.
Nigerian made or Chinese export: What is the coronavirus?
So what causes coronavirus?
What everyone has been terming in the recent outbreak, the coronavirus is designated as COVID-19. The coronavirus is a whole family of viruses. It is not just one infectious disease but many. Coronaviruses cause illness with varying levels of severity from the common cold to very deadly ones like the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). These coronaviruses are usually transmitted from animals to humans. But since corruption is a cash cow exploited by Nigerians, the EFCC boss might have been right in a way.
This new strain had not been identified in humans before now. It is a large enough threat for the WHO to declare a global health emergency. While conspiracy theories fly left and right, let us trust the experts on this one. The coronavirus, in this case, COVID-19 is not caused by corruption.
If it was caused by corruption, we would have had long lines in Nigerian hospitals, roadside pharmacies, and alternative medicine. These people would be feverish, coughing and having difficulty breathing. As this virus caused by corruption spreads, pneumonia cases would skyrocket and people die from multiple organ failure. But yet this has not happened. There is no confirmed case of coronavirus in Nigeria. The minister probably meant that corruption in the meat markets of Hunan brewed a deadly virus. Beware oh bribe-takers.
Now that we have established the fact that corruption has nothing to do with the creation and spread of the coronavirus, it is important to identify what does.
Unlike the Coronavirus, the effects of corruption are confirmed and devastating
There are some things of which we are sure corruption causes. A PwC report on the Impact of Corruption on Nigeria’s Economy submitted to the Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo details some of the real effects of fraudulent conduct. The report projected that by 2030, Nigeria would lose 37% of its GDP to corruption. The cost of this equals the loss of $2,000 per person in 2020. Take into account, the expected population explosion in Nigeria putting the new figure in 2030 at 264 million people. That means that over 528 billion dollars will go down the drain. With an economy like ours, every penny counts. But it seems no one is taking this into account.
The reports also highlights that when corruption becomes business as usual, it affects the economy. Small businesses and startups are unable to thrive in an environment with low access to cash and concessions they need at that level. Without the resources, big corporations have to weave through the extortionist system, Small and Medium Enterprises are left behind, unable to fully break into the market.
When the rich avoid tax, there is less money to be used for public necessities. Households suffer from the lack of basic amenities. The cycle begins with corruption reducing investment and productivity. Then economic growth is lowered which in turn leads to increased inequality, weakened national institutions and higher poverty levels. As money is laundered out of the country and the FDI decreases, human capital is neglected and the teeming masses are left to suffer without respite.
Corruption does not cause illness but it is a cancer eating away at the collective fabric of our nation. With crumbling institutions and weakening national security attributed to bribery, nepotism, and graft what hope do we have?
The EFCC boss Magu might be right in a way. In order to reduce the spread of coronavirus, hand hygiene is strongly encouraged. Maybe if we all wash our hands clean of petty and institutional corruption, the “virus” will leave our shores and stop decimating our population.
Empty rhetoric and dangers of badly written speeches
What are the consequences of a well-educated public official in charge of an important agency saying that a national vice causes a pandemic virus?
Every expert should know his subject matter. It is expected that Magu should be an authority on tackling corruption. Making it imperative for him to be familiar with its causes and effects. The 281 cadets of the EFCC Detective Inspector Course-5 should be able to use his words to direct their actions. A student should be able to quote his speech for an academic dissertation. A market woman should be able to explain corruption to her children from his words. Bus drivers, police officers, political analysts as well as all other Nigerian should be able to rely on his words as factual. But we cannot. It might seem like just another speech punctuated with erroneous points given by a Nigerian official at an event but this is not like the theatrical performances of the former First Lady, it is as serious as the former President Goodluck Jonathan saying “common stealing” is not corruption. Leaders are in a unique position. They influence how the citizen perceives issues. With views like this on corruption, we can be sure, ignorance will be strengthened. What hope do we have to fight against a pandemic disease or a social vice? Public officials have to realize that their words and action have the power to start chaos as well as to provide direction to the people.
Ibrahim Magu’s speech is proof that public officials tend not to focus on the actual issue. Empty rhetoric is churned out at events without a thought to its effect. Maybe because they see no use in researching for actual fact. Or maybe because they read speeches hastily thrown together before the event disregarding the people that will hear them and pay attention to their words.
