Tackling corruption in Nigeria requires a holistic approach which would involve efforts from Nigerian citizens as well as the government. Citizens need to be encouraged to take part in the fight against corruption. The Freedom of Information Act if well implemented will improve the fight against corruption as citizens will be empowered with the necessary information needed to expose corruption. However, the absence of a witness protection program reduces the incentive for people to come forward with information that would be helpful during investigations or to testify in cases of corruption. This is due to fear of reprisals or threats which whistleblowers and witnesses encounter. An example can be cited from the recent death threats sent to four witnesses in the ongoing trial for the N4.7 billion ($30.2million) pension scam. The witnesses were told to refrain from testifying in court or else they would die.
This demonstrates the need for Nigeria to introduce a witness protection program. People need to know that they can be protected if they are witnesses in cases of corruption or crime. There is a witness protection programme bill in the National Assembly which is yet to be passed into law. It would be good to pass this into law as it will provide protection to witnesses during investigations and trials in cases of corruption or crime. This would encourage people to come forward and would help in the fight against corruption.
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