Inside Nigeria
Corruption, Poor Judicial System Dominates Nigeria – US State Department
Foreign companies, particularly those based in the United States of America, are complaining of pervasive corruption, poor judicial system, inconsistent regulations, and lack of transparency as hindrances to doing business with ease in Nigeria.
The complaints were contained in a report, ‘2018 Investment Climate Statements’ published by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, a copy of which was obtained by THISDAY on Saturday.
The latest report, which was released on Thursday, provided information on the business climates of more than 170 countries including Nigeria.
“Nigeria’s full market potential remains unrealised because of significant impediments such as pervasive corruption, inadequate power and transportation infrastructure, high energy costs, an inconsistent regulatory and legal environment, insecurity, a slow and ineffective bureaucracy and judicial system, and inadequate intellectual property rights protections and enforcement…. Nigeria’s underdeveloped power sector remains a particular bottleneck to broad-based economic development,” it said.
The report prepared by the US economic officers stationed in embassies and posts around the world examined matters like investment, legal and regulatory systems, dispute resolution, transparency, responsible business conduct, and corruption.
The document which acknowledged that Nigeria’s imports rose in 2017, largely as a result of the country’s gradual recovery from the 2015 economic recession, noted that US goods exports to Nigeria in that year were $2.16 billion, up nearly 60 per cent from the previous year.
While US imports from Nigeria were $7.05 billion, an increase of 68.7 per cent, it disclosed that “US exports to Nigeria are primarily refined petroleum products, used vehicles, cereals, and machinery.”
The US government further claimed: “Maritime criminality in Nigerian waters, including incidents of piracy and crew kidnap for ransom, has increased in recent years and law enforcement efforts have been limited or ineffectual. Onshore, international inspectors have voiced concerns over the adequacy of security measures at some Nigerian port facilities. Businesses report that bribery of customs and port officials remains common to avoid delays, and smuggled goods routinely enter Nigeria’s seaports and cross its land borders.”
The pointed out that corruption and lack of transparency in tender processes has been a far greater concern to US companies than any discriminatory policies based on foreign status.
It noted, “Government tenders are published in local newspapers, a ‘tenders’ journal sold at local newspaper outlets, and on occasionally in foreign journals and magazines. The Nigerian government has made modest progress on its pledge to conduct open and competitive bidding processes for government procurement.
“Reforms have also improved transparency in procurement by the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). Although US companies have won contracts in a number of sectors, difficulties in receiving payment are not uncommon and can inhibit firms from bidding.”
It further stated that agencies created to promote industrial exports were burdened by uneven management, vaguely-defined policy guidelines, and corruption.
“Nigeria’s inadequate power supply and lack of infrastructure and the associated high production costs leave Nigerian exporters at a significant disadvantage. Many Nigerian businesses fail to export because they find meeting international packaging and safety standards is too difficult or expensive…. The vast majority of Nigeria’s manufacturers remain unable to compete in the international market,” it said.
The report berated the country’s judicial system accusing it of allowing corruption to thrive, saying: “Nigeria has a complex, three-tiered legal system comprised English common law, Islamic law, and Nigerian customary law. The Nigerian court system is slow and inefficient, lacks adequate court facilities and computerized document-processing systems, and poorly remunerates judges and other court officials, all of which encourages corruption and undermines enforcement.”
Although Nigeria’s constitution and law provide for an independent judiciary, report concluded: “The judicial branch remains susceptible to pressure from the executive and legislative branches. Political leaders have influenced the judiciary, particularly at the state and local levels. Understaffing, underfunding, inefficiency, and corruption have at times prevented the judiciary from functioning adequately.”
Anonymous
July 23, 2018 at 2:29 pm
Biafra is the only way out
Anonymous
July 23, 2018 at 6:26 am
I dare our judiciary to ask America to show evidence, shameless , characterless people, whose God is their belly
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 9:48 pm
True talk
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 9:25 pm
Nigeria is finished under this government, packaging of this government by the handlers is no more working because eyes are seeing what is happening
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 8:35 pm
Absolutely correct
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 6:44 pm
Very correct
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 5:05 pm
Nigeria is governed by uneducated, uncivilized, incompetent and zoological sets of human. all hope has lost ever since 2015
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 3:57 pm
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Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 3:47 pm
Fulani terrorist government also dominate Nigerian state
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 3:40 pm
Nigeria a shithole
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 3:39 pm
it is true.
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 3:36 pm
You never see anything yet!
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 3:34 pm
Haha haha odiegwu! Tell them, they thought they could deceived all of us.
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 3:27 pm
A threat to National judiciary and Welfare of Nigerians due to a deaf government under the administration of President Buhari.
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 3:11 pm
When only the Executive arm of government is the legislator and the judiciary, what do you expect madam? Pure corruption I guess
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 2:41 pm
Over to you Buharists, Buharididinrins and Buharideens. You can also label us state dept corrupt for saying the obvious truth.
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 2:40 pm
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 2:36 pm
This particular government is the worst corrupts ever
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 2:36 pm
Said Baba is the most corrupt President in the world believe me or not
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 2:26 pm
Again and again 1000%
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 2:18 pm
The common man has lost hope in nig judiciary. Us u are right .100%.
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 2:44 pm
110 %
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 2:12 pm
You can say that again madam
Anonymous
July 22, 2018 at 2:06 pm
A perfect definition of what Nigeria is like today.smh!!!