Has there ever been a time when banning anything in Nigeria prevented it from happening? In 2023, there were 87 million instances of public sector bribery in this country, with nearly every business interaction involving bribery, kickbacks, or some form of illegal monetary inducement.
Sitting in the air-conditioned offices of Aso Rock, signing documents and issuing orders may work in countries like Japan, China, the U.S., or Germany. However, it cannot succeed in lawless Nigeria, where transparency and the rule of law are on the brink of collapse.
A ban would only increase bribery by enriching the authorities in charge while impoverishing traders and consumers. The added costs of bribery would inflate prices, which would ultimately be passed on to consumers. Instead of achieving its intended goal, the ban would make Nigerians poorer. This cycle has occurred countless times, yet president after president continues to repeat the same ineffective policies.
Tinubu is not significantly different from Buhari.
By Ikechukwu ORJI
