Nigerians often lose faith in anti-corruption campaigns due to a combination of factors that create a deep sense of cynicism and resignation.

While various administrations have launched initiatives and established agencies to combat corruption, the perceived lack of tangible and consistent results has led to widespread disillusionment.

Here are the key reasons why Nigerians lose faith:

1. Politicization and Selectivity of Anti-Corruption Efforts:

   • Targeting Opponents: Anti-corruption campaigns are frequently perceived as tools for political witch-hunts, primarily targeting political opponents or dissenting voices, while allies or members of the ruling party are often spared, even when evidence of corruption against them is apparent. This "sacred cow" syndrome erodes trust in the fairness and impartiality of the fight.

   • Shifting Allegiances: Individuals who are under investigation for corruption may see their cases go cold or even be dropped if they switch political parties to join the ruling party. This sends a clear message that political affiliation can offer immunity from prosecution.

   • Double Standards: There's a pervasive perception of double standards, where some individuals face swift and harsh consequences for corruption, while others involved in equally or more egregious acts go unpunished.

2. Lack of Convictions and Impunity for High-Profile Cases:

   • "No Big Fish" Convictions: Despite numerous arrests and investigations, there's a chronic lack of high-profile convictions, especially for politically exposed persons (PEPs) involved in grand corruption. Cases drag on for years, often ending inconclusively or with highly criticized plea bargains.

   • Weak Judicial System: The judicial system is often seen as compromised, with delays, adjournments, and alleged corruption within the courts themselves. This allows corrupt individuals to exploit legal loopholes and influence outcomes, escaping justice.

   • Impunity: The consistent failure to hold powerful individuals accountable for corruption reinforces the belief that "nothing will happen" to those in power, regardless of their actions. This impunity breeds further corruption and deepens public despair.

3. Weak Institutions and Political Interference:

   • Compromised Anti-Corruption Agencies: While agencies like the EFCC and ICPC exist, their independence is frequently undermined by political interference from the executive branch. Leaders of these agencies may be appointed or removed based on political expediency, limiting their ability to operate without fear or favor.

   • Insufficient Resources/Capacity: Sometimes, these agencies lack the necessary funding, trained personnel, and technical resources to effectively investigate and prosecute complex corruption cases, especially those involving international financial flows.

   • Legislative Loopholes: Existing laws may have loopholes, or new laws needed to strengthen the anti-corruption framework are often stalled by political interests.

4. Recycling of Corrupt Individuals:

   • Re-emergence of Accused Persons: Many Nigerians witness individuals previously accused or even indicted for corruption being rehabilitated and appointed to new public offices, sometimes even higher ones. This signals that corruption carries no lasting stigma or consequence.

   • Lack of Integrity in Appointments: The criteria for public appointments often prioritize loyalty, patronage, or wealth over integrity and competence, allowing potentially corrupt individuals into positions of power.

5. Perceived Ineffectiveness on Daily Life:

   • Continued Hardship: Despite anti-corruption rhetoric, the average Nigerian's daily life continues to be plagued by the direct effects of corruption: poor public services, high cost of living, insecurity, and unemployment. When citizens don't see tangible improvements in their lives, they question the sincerity and effectiveness of the campaigns.

   • "Corruption as the Price for Getting Things Done": Many Nigerians, out of necessity, participate in petty corruption (e.g., paying bribes to police, for services) because they perceive it as the only way to get things done in a broken system. This experience reinforces the idea that corruption is unavoidable and ingrained.

6. Trust Deficit and Communication Gaps:

   • Government Credibility: Decades of unfulfilled promises and perceived hypocrisy from successive governments have created a deep trust deficit. When anti-corruption campaigns are announced, many Nigerians automatically approach them with skepticism.

   • Poor Communication: The government sometimes fails to effectively communicate the complexities and long-term nature of fighting systemic corruption, or to highlight genuine successes in a way that resonates with the public.

In essence, the lack of consistent political will, the politicization of anti-corruption efforts, and the pervasive culture of impunity for high-ranking offenders are the primary drivers of Nigerians' profound loss of faith in anti-corruption campaigns. Until there are widespread, impartial, and sustained convictions of corrupt individuals at all levels, and a visible improvement in the lives of ordinary citizens, cynicism is likely to persist.