Ribadu: Nigeria Must Shift from Chasing Corruption to Preventing It

“Prosecutions Can’t Save Us”—Ribadu Urges Corruption Prevention Revolution

By: IDNN National Policy Desk

In a defining national policy moment, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has warned that Nigeria’s war on corruption must shift gears—from punishment to prevention—if the country is to overcome insecurity and institutional collapse.

Delivering the 9th Oba Sikiru Adetona Professorial Lecture in Ogun State on Saturday, Ribadu called corruption “a core driver of national insecurity”, linking it to terrorism financing, weak law enforcement, and public disillusionment.

“We arrest and prosecute, but we’re not winning,” Ribadu said.
“We need a system that stops corruption before it even starts.”

From Reaction to Prevention: A New Graft Blueprint

Ribadu, Nigeria’s first EFCC Chairman, said while punitive action remains important, the real revolution lies in closing the taps—not just mopping the floor.

“Arrest and prosecution are reactive. They come after the damage,” he said.
“Let’s build systems where people simply can’t steal—even if they want to.”

He proposed a strategy that blends policy redesign, public education, institutional firewalls, and technological tracking—to cut corruption at the roots.

Corruption & Security: Two Faces of the Same Monster

Ribadu didn’t mince words when drawing the link between corruption and national insecurity.

“You can’t talk about insecurity without corruption,” he declared.
“From arms procurement fraud to compromised law enforcement—graft is the gateway to chaos.”

He revealed that under Tinubu’s administration:

• 160,000+ Boko Haram insurgents have surrendered

• 300+ terrorist commanders have been neutralized

• 2,500 rehabilitated fighters have been reintegrated

But he warned that without tackling the financial arteries that fund insurgency, these gains could quickly unravel.

 “The People Must Join the Fight”

Ribadu also dropped a cultural bombshell—saying corruption is not just a government problem, but a national character crisis.

“It cuts across everyone—not just public officials. Who must not take, must also not give.”

He challenged ordinary Nigerians to stop enabling graft—by refusing to bribe, by demanding transparency, and by holding leaders accountable.