The Executive Director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, has described corruption as an organised crime, arguing that it shares the same structures, networks, and impacts as conventional criminal enterprises.
Dr. Fyneface made the assertion on Friday, January 23, 2026, while delivering a virtual lecture at the University of St Andrews, United Kingdom. He spoke on the topic “Network on Organised Crime in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea: Trends, Dynamics and Implications.”
According to him, corruption should no longer be viewed merely as an individual or opportunistic offence, but as a coordinated criminal activity involving multiple actors and institutions.
“I want to use the opportunity of this lecture to classify, describe, and declare corruption as an organised crime, whether in Nigeria, the Gulf of Guinea, or anywhere else in the world”.
Dr. Fyneface explained that corruption, which Transparency International defines as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain, often requires the collaboration of more than one person or institution, a feature common to organised crime syndicates.
Presenting a PowerPoint paper to the School of Geography and Sustainable Development during the Just SeaCurity Dialogue webinar series titled “Voices from the Coast: Emerging Research in Ocean Governance,” he outlined key reasons corruption should be treated as organised crime.
He identified its systemic nature, noting that corruption is often embedded within institutional frameworks and sustained by networks of individuals and groups. He also pointed to the existence of organised networks, involving public officials, business interests, and other actors working together for personal gain.
Dr. Fyneface further highlighted the role of large-scale financial transactions, including money laundering and illicit financial flows, often facilitated through the banking sector. He added that corruption’s impact on governance weakens institutions, erodes the rule of law, and hampers national development.
He concluded by stressing the need for a strategic shift in Nigeria’s anti-corruption approach.
“Although Nigeria has laws and institutions such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), it is important to recognise corruption as an organised crime and confront it as such to mitigate its devastating effects on society,” he said.
According to him, corruption remains a major driver of institutional decay, poor governance, underdevelopment, and widespread poverty in the country.
