According to a new study by ActionAid Nigeria, poverty is rampant in Nigeria because of pervasive corruption and the inability of security agencies to tackle it, THE NATION reports.

 According to Hussaini Abdu, ActionAid Nigeria country director, the study which was carried out to find the relationship between corruption and poverty linked growing poverty to the growing spate of corruption which has led to failure of public schools, utilities and infrastructures.

The study revealed that corruption which has led to failure of public schools has encouraged citizens to find ways to survive, thus leading to more corruption and poverty. 

 It also says the failure of the security agencies has led to the proliferation of private security agencies which corporate organisations and individuals have subscribed to.

 The study averred that because of the failure of these agencies, corporate bodies and individuals have to budget for their securities thus leading to cutting of corners and corruption to meet up the costs.

It found out that since 1999 when the country returned to civil rule “corruption has been democratised” as politics has become the most lucrative business in the land “it is an investment and when you win you reap the dividend.