society
The Lootocracy: Why Nigeria Bleeds Despite Its Riches
The Lootocracy: Why Nigeria Bleeds Despite Its Riches.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
“From SENATORS padding budgets to GOVERNORS hoarding salaries, from MINISTERS stealing oil money to ORDINARY NIGERIANS demanding bribes – CORRUPTION is not just in government, it is in the people. Nigeria’s curse is not resources, but the greed that runs through POWER and SOCIETY.”
The Grand Theft Called Governance. Nigeria, the so-called “GIANT of AFRICA,” sits on vast oil reserves, fertile land and an energetic population of over 220 million. Yet it remains one of the poverty capitals of the world. Why? Because the wealth of the nation has been consistently looted, not only by PRESIDENT’S and MILITARY RULERS, but by SENATORS, MINISTERS, GOVERNORS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN and tragically, by ORDINARY CITIZENS who participate in the culture of corruption.
According to the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), over $582 billion in oil revenue has disappeared through corruption and mismanagement since independence in 1960. This figure is almost double Nigeria’s current GDP. While nations like the UAE and Qatar used oil wealth to build futuristic cities, Nigeria’s leaders turned oil into a curse, looting it to build mansions in Dubai, buy apartments in London and stash billions in Swiss accounts.
As Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary leader of Burkina Faso, once said: “A soldier without any political education is a potential criminal.” In Nigeria, leaders without moral education became criminals in power.
PRESIDENT’S and HEADS of STATE: The Original Looters. It would be hypocritical to discuss looting without mentioning Nigeria’s presidents and military rulers. General Sani Abacha, who ruled from 1993 to 1998, looted an estimated $5 billion, part of which is still being repatriated from Switzerland and the U.S. today. His name remains a global synonym for kleptocracy.
Olusegun Obasanjo’s civilian regime (1999–2007), though hailed for debt relief, was dogged by corruption in privatization deals. Power sector contracts worth $16 billion vanished with little to show in electricity supply.
Goodluck Jonathan’s administration (2010–2015) witnessed unprecedented oil theft, with former Central Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi alleging that $20 billion was missing from NNPC accounts.
Even today, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s current president, is frequently accused by opposition and civil groups of building a vast political and financial empire on questionable sources, echoing the pattern of looting entrenched in Nigerian politics.
As Chinua Achebe declared in The Trouble with Nigeria: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.”
SENATORS: Millionaires in Robes. Nigeria’s National Assembly is one of the most expensive in the world. According to a 2018 report by The Economist, each Nigerian senator earns over $450,000 annually in salaries and allowances, in a country where the minimum wage is less than Us$50 (₦30,000/₦70,000, though in some states). Beyond their bloated pay, senators pad budgets, demand kickbacks for constituency projects and sometimes pocket funds for projects that never exist.
In 2020, an investigation revealed that billions allocated to “CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS” across Nigeria had either been abandoned or poorly executed. Roads that were supposed to be built remain death traps, health centers remain uncompleted and water boreholes remain dry; yet the money was collected.
Nelson Mandela once said: “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, it is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right.” Nigerian senators, instead of fighting poverty, have institutionalized injustice.
MINISTERS and Oil Barons: The Big Thieves. No sector has been looted like Nigeria’s oil industry. Under Diezani Alison-Madueke, petroleum minister during Jonathan’s administration, billions vanished through shady oil deals. The U.S. Department of Justice seized over $144 million in assets linked to her alleged corruption, including luxury homes and jewelry.
Oil subsidies have also been a cash cow for thieves. In 2012, a government probe revealed that ₦1.7 trillion ($10 billion) was fraudulently claimed by fuel importers and government officials. Instead of subsidizing fuel for the masses, the scheme became a pipeline of wealth into private pockets.
GOVERNORS: Lords of the States. State governors, often referred to as “EMPERORS in AGBADA,” control billions in federal allocations. Many treat their states as personal estates. Former Delta State Governor James Ibori was convicted in the UK in 2012 for laundering over $250 million. In 2021, the British government returned £4.2 million of his loot.
In Plateau State, former Governor Joshua Dariye was jailed for embezzling ₦1.1 billion meant for ecological projects. Former Taraba Governor Jolly Nyame was convicted for diverting ₦1.6 billion of state funds. The list goes on.
Meanwhile, ordinary workers in these states often go months without salaries, pensioners die waiting for payments and infrastructure collapses.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT: The Forgotten Looters. At the grassroots, local government Chairmen (who should be closest to the people) often act as petty kings. Federal allocations to LGAs run into billions annually, but most Nigerians can hardly point to functioning primary schools, healthcare centers or roads built by their local governments. Instead, the funds vanish into private accounts, with no accountability.
The People’s Complicity. It is easy to point fingers at leaders, but ordinary Nigerians are also complicit. Police officers DEMAND ₦1000 bribes on the highways. Civil servants INFLATE contracts. Market women ADD “extra charges” to customers. Parents pay to SECURE jobs for their children. When corruption becomes a way of life, leadership simply reflects the people.
As Plato warned centuries ago: “The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” Nigerians who normalize corruption are silently paving the way for more looters in power.
The Cost of Looting. The consequences of looting are everywhere. Nigeria has over 133 million people living in multidimensional poverty, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (2022). Roads are death traps, hospitals lack equipment and universities go on endless strikes. The country, once an agricultural powerhouse, now imports basic food items.
Every billion stolen is a hospital unbuilt, a school unfunded, a road unrepaired and a job lost. Looting is not an abstract crime; it kills, slowly but surely.
Nigeria’s Looting in Numbers
$582 Billion – Oil revenue lost to corruption since 1960 (NEITI).
133 Million Nigerians – Living in multidimensional poverty (NBS, 2022).
$450,000/year – What each senator earns in salaries and allowances (The Economist).
$5 Billion – Looted by General Sani Abacha alone (World Bank/DOJ).
₦1.7 Trillion ($10 Billion) – Fuel subsidy fraud uncovered in 2012.
$16 Billion – Power sector funds under Obasanjo’s watch, with little result.
£250 Million – James Ibori’s stolen wealth laundered abroad (UK conviction).
₦30,000/₦70,000 (less than $50) – Nigeria’s minimum monthly wage.
“Every billion stolen is a hospital unbuilt, a school unfunded, a road unrepaired and a job lost.”
A Call to Reckoning. Nigeria cannot continue like this. As Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, once said: “Corruption is the single biggest obstacle to Nigeria’s development.” Until looters (from presidents to LG chairmen, from senators to citizens) are punished and systemic reforms are enforced, Nigeria will remain trapped in underdevelopment.
The people must also rise. Protests like #EndSARS showed that Nigerians can mobilize against injustice. Anger must now move beyond hashtags. Citizens must demand accountability at every level, vote out corrupt politicians and refuse to normalize bribery in daily life.
The Way Forward: Nigeria needs a rebirth. A rebirth where OIL WEALTH builds industries, not foreign mansions. Where SENATORS legislate for the people, not for their pockets. Where GOVERNORS become servants, not emperors. Where LOCAL GOVERNMENTS bring development, not decay. Where CITIZENS reject corruption in all its forms.
The looting of Nigeria’s wealth is not just a failure of government; it is a betrayal by an entire system. The time has come to end this betrayal.
society
Dr. Bernard Shiaunda Eete Mobilizes Loyalists Ahead of Kenya’s General Election
Dr. Bernard Shiaunda Eete Mobilizes Loyalists Ahead of Kenya’s General Election
Ahead of Kenya’s 2027 general election, Nyanza ODM aspirant Dr. Bernard Shiaunda Eete, popularly known as Dumex3, has intensified grassroots mobilization by holding a strategic meeting with his loyalists across the region. The gathering was aimed at aligning his team, refining campaign strategies, and positioning the movement for a decisive outcome at the polls.
The meeting provided an important platform for open consultation, idea exchange, and consensus building. Dr. Eete emphasized the need for unity, discipline, and clear communication as the campaign enters a critical phase. According to attendees, the discussions focused on strengthening the political structure on the ground, addressing community concerns, and ensuring that the movement remains responsive to the aspirations of the people.
A key focus was Dr. Eete’s developmental agenda for Nyanza. He outlined his commitments to education, youth empowerment, healthcare access, and infrastructure development, noting that these areas remain central to transforming lives in the region. He urged his loyalists to carry the message to the grassroots, explaining both what has been achieved so far and what the region stands to gain if they rally behind his candidacy.
“This is not just about winning an election. It’s about building a stronger, united political movement that delivers real change for our people,” Dr. Eete told the gathering. He called on his supporters to remain focused, avoid divisive rhetoric, and engage voters with facts about his track record and plans.
The meeting ended with a renewed commitment from the loyalists to expand outreach, coordinate ward-level activities, and mobilize voters ahead of party primaries and the general election. Organizers described the session as productive, noting that it sharpened the team’s resolve and clarified immediate next steps.
As political activity heats up in Nyanza, Dr. Eete’s camp says the strategy is clear: consolidate support, communicate consistently, and deliver a campaign anchored on service and results.
Live update from Kenya by Hon. Babatunde Seidu, Youths Ambassador._
society
Mayor of Brampton Honours Olajumoke Abegunde For Charitable Works
Mayor of Brampton Honours Olajumoke Abegunde For Charitable Works
…Foundation Touches Over 8,000 Women, Widows, and Youth in Ondo State…..
…Collaborates with International Partners for Free Skill Acquisition in Canada…
For Chief Mrs. Olajumoke Abegunde, the act of touching lives positively and contributing meaningfully to societal development is not merely a pastime but a deeply ingrained existential mandate. With unwavering gusto, she has remained faithful to this noble vision, championing the esoteric principle that cheerful giving and advocacy for the downtrodden are responsibilities too sacred to be left exclusively in the hands of the government.
This resolute philosophy has not only engendered transformative impact within her immediate locality but has also catapulted her onto the global stage. Recently, her passionate charitable exertions—executed both within and outside the shores of Nigeria—earned her prestigious international recognition.
A Legacy of Grassroots Transformation
As the visionary founder of the Jummy I Care Foundation, Chief Mrs. Abegunde has systematically dismantled barriers of vulnerability across Ondo State. Through sustained philanthropic gestures, she has disbursed extensive humanitarian relief and social assistance to over 3,000 indigent widows and elderly persons. In parallel, her foundation has galvanized robust support for orphaned and vulnerable children while orchestrating an ambitious women’s empowerment programme. To date, over 5,000 women have benefited from skills acquisition and income-generating activities designed to cultivate self-reliance and entrepreneurial audacity. Many of these beneficiaries have also received start-up seed capital to establish their own enterprises.
A proud alumna of Criminology and Security Studies from the National Open University of Nigeria, Chief Mrs. Abegunde has also distinguished herself as a patron of youth development. She has sponsored numerous essay writing and entrepreneurship competitions across Ondo State, in addition to funding medical outreaches, orphanage interventions, Iftar and Easter entrepreneurship programmes, and sustained feeding initiatives for the less privileged.
Her core philosophy remains immutable: when those who are well-to-do invest strategically in their immediate society, the collective becomes safer, more stable, and poised for greater heights.
International Collaboration and Brampton Honour
In a decisive move to intensify her developmental footprint, the Jummy I Care Foundation recently entered into a strategic tripartite collaboration with the Habeeb Okunola Foundation and the MakeMee Elegant Foundation. Together, they delivered a gratuitous, high-impact skill acquisition training programme to residents of Brampton, Canada.
Participants were immersed in an array of artisan crafts, including the production of resin bags, photo books, picture otters, resin key holders and frame holders, ornamental flower vases, rhinestone embellishment, and the advanced technique of printing images on fabrics.
In a ceremonial recognition of her sustained benevolence, the Mayor of Brampton formally hosted Chief Mrs. Abegunde and her delegation at the mayor’s office. The mayor personally expressed profound gratitude for her unwavering support of community development and entrepreneurship. As a tangible emblem of this appreciation, she was presented with a personally signed certificate of appreciation and commendation.
Unwavering Commitment to the Future
While accepting the honour, Chief Mrs. Olajumoke Abegunde reaffirmed her immutable resolve. She declared that her commitment to touching lives remains absolute and non-negotiable. According to her, she will not relent in ensuring that more lives are touched, more support is channeled to the people, and greater stability is secured for communities. She further emphasized her dedication to cultivating the spirit of entrepreneurship among women and youths as a cornerstone for sustainable development.
With over 8,000 direct beneficiaries in Nigeria alone and an expanding international footprint, Chief Mrs. Abegunde stands as a formidable testament to the profound change one determined philanthropist can effectuate when passion meets purpose.
society
APM Senatorial Candidate Ajadi Distributes Over 500 Bags of Rice
APM Senatorial Candidate Ajadi Distributes Over 500 Bags of Rice
The Senatorial candidate of Oyo Central Senatorial District under the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has distributed over 500 bags of rice to residents, party members, state executives, and key stakeholders across Oyo State ahead of the forthcoming Eid al-Adha celebration.
The gesture, which forms part of his annual humanitarian outreach, was aimed at easing economic hardship and strengthening unity among party executives, party members, and residents within the senatorial district during the festive period.
Ajadi said the distribution was a continuation of his commitment to supporting vulnerable households and fostering community solidarity, especially at a time when many families are facing rising food prices and economic pressure.
He explained that Eid al-Adha is rooted in sacrifice, sharing, and compassion, adding that political leadership must consistently reflect empathy for the people, regardless of political affiliation or election cycles.
According to him, the intervention was extended to party executives, grassroots mobilizers, youth groups, and key stakeholders across the senatorial district to ensure equitable distribution across different segments of the political structure in Oyo State.
Ajadi further noted that the initiative was designed to complement household food needs during the festive season, stressing that small acts of support can significantly ease the burden on families affected by economic challenges.
He urged political leaders at all levels to prioritize welfare-driven initiatives that have direct impact on citizens, emphasizing that leadership should go beyond campaigns to sustained service delivery and humanitarian engagement.
Beneficiaries of the rice distribution expressed appreciation for the gesture, describing it as timely and thoughtful amid rising food costs across the country.
They commended Ajadi for maintaining close contact with grassroots members and consistently demonstrating what they described as people-oriented leadership.
The distribution exercise was carried out across selected locations within Oyo Central Senatorial District and coordinated through local party structures to ensure fairness and orderly sharing.
Political observers in the state noted that such interventions have become a key feature of political engagement in Nigeria, particularly during festive seasons, as politicians seek to connect with constituents beyond electoral promises.
As the Eid al-Adha celebration approaches, Ajadi reaffirmed his commitment to continuing similar initiatives aimed at supporting families and promoting unity among residents of Oyo State.
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