AMNESTY FOR NIGERIA'S CORRUPT?

Nigeria has lost trillions to graft over the years. As such, it is no surprise that on most key indicators the country ranks low. From child mortality rates to life expectancy, the country has much ground to cover. Despite this reality, many argue that those who have stolen public funds should receive a pardon. Others have advocated that it may be better to forgive these thieves and move on. Keeping with that line of thinking, the head of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Muhammad Nadada Umar, proposed amnesty for Nigeria's corrupt. Specifically, Umar wants to give these individuals a six month period during which they can return stolen funds. He then went on to state that the returned money could be invested in his agency where it could earn about 3%.


TRYING SOMETHING NEW...
Nigeria has spent years combating corruption The most significant incarnation of an anti-corruption campaign involved the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which, according to its chief, has recovered $6.5 billion. However, the works of the EFCC and other government organizations created with a similar purpose has hardly scratched the surface. This is illustrated by the many international  court cases against foreign nationals and corporations that engaged in corrupt business practices while in Nigeria. The grand irony is that the Nigerian beneficiaries of these corrupt conspiracies are yet to be truly challenged by Nigerian authorities.

Given the lack of progress, corruption-amnesty suggestions and other similar proposals are possible alternatives to addressing the endemic problem of national corruption. But, will the application of these tactics produce any measurable benefits?

THE NIGER DELTA AMNESTY: AN EXAMPLE
The only other amnesty agreement in Nigeria's recent history would be the amnesty granted to militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta. After attacks on pipelines, kidnappings and other violence contributed to a significant drop in oil production and profits, late President Yar'Adua created an amnesty program that would pay militants to disarm. Among other things, the agreement budgeted money to educate militants and provide work training. The agreement reportedly led to an increase in oil production. Unfortunately, paying militants to shun be violent is unsustainable and the region would likely be better off with development in the form of hospitals, schools and infrastructure. Also, although there is reportedly less militant-driven violence against oil installations, there remains the problem of insufficient electricity generation and supply, which, however, the current administration is working to solve. After 10 months of amnesty, the overwhelming beneficiaries appear to be the international oil companies, militants and the government.

WILL A CORRUPTION-AMNESTY WORK?
Notwithstanding the fact that the benefits of the Niger Delta amnesty are yet to trickle down to the larger population, simply dismissing a corruption-amnesty approach without further consideration would be foolhardy. It is possible that given the right conditions, those that stole billions would be convinced to return some, if not all, of their ill-gotten wealth. If the country experienced a period of truth and reconciliation or if the nation's looters were made to face the families directly affected by their theft, maybe money would be returned.  And, if used properly, this money could improve living conditions for many.

And yet, there is the probability that simply 'forgiving' those whose greed correlates to Nigeria's poverty could backfire. Assuming that anyone returns any stolen money, would the amnesty process be worth the time, effort and expense given the amounts returned? And, what if no looters return any money? There is also the question of whether such an amnesty would not reinforce Nigeria's already dire Punishment Problem whereby the rich and connected can avoid the most severe consequences of the law. This possibility would be extremely dangerous and would likely lead Nigeria right back to where it is right now: a country with a serious corruption problem that is not doing enough to solve it.

The granting of amnesty, as a concept, is technically not unsavory. However, in the Nigerian context and especially when corruption is involved, amnesty might not suffice as a solution to graft and it's consequences. Plus, such an arrangement could send the wrong message and even create more problems to deal with. But, future versions of this and similar proposals could be more convincing. And, they might prove to be a useful method to limit corruption's devastating effects on Nigerians. Until that day comes, investigating corrupt individuals, charging them in court, recovering stolen monies and investing in Nigeria's future is the most reasonable way to deal with corruption.


From the Archives:
- Niger Delta Amnesty: Dividends?
- Nigeria's Oil Revenue Cut In Half
- Nigeria's Oil Expiration Date Draws Near
- MEND Attacks In Lagos
- Nigeria's Oil War - A Distraction?
- War In the Niger Delta
- No Longer King of African Crude?
- The Global Food Crises, Nigeria & MEND
- Port Harcourt & Nigeria Under Siege
- Is Nigeria A Breeding Ground for Terrorism?