Systemic Corruption and Public Water Provision in Nigeria: A Qualitative Study of Institutional Drivers, Service Delivery and Social Consequences

Systemic corruption represents a persistent governance challenge for public water provision in Nigeria, where institutional weaknesses can undermine service reliability, infrastructure development and equitable access. This study examines stakeholders’ perceptions of the prevalence, manifestations, drivers and consequences of corruption within Nigeria’s water provision sector, while identifying measures for strengthening accountability. The study adopted the qualitative research method using a semi-structured and unstructured telephone interview with 18 respondents representing a range of stakeholders, including public utility officials, civil society and regulatory stakeholders, private water providers and water contractors, and community representatives. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis which resulted in four broad themes. Participants referred to corruption as present and prevalent, and reported misappropriation, procurement malpractice, bribery, nepotism, inadequate regulatory systems and other administrative practices as important forms of corruption. Corruption was seen to be contributing to poor infrastructure, unreliable service delivery, poor water resource management, social injustice, environmental pressures and loss of public trust. Its persistence was attributed to the lack of transparency and accountability, political interference, poor regulation enforcement, restricted protection for whistleblowers, and sociocultural acceptance and institutional limitations. The study suggests that the opportunities afforded by information asymmetry and weak monitoring are explored through Principal-Agent Theory and how the corrupt practices become normalised and reproduced through institutional theory. The overall conclusions is that there is a need for integrated reforms focused on transparency, independent oversight, protection of whistleblowers, participation of stakeholders and capacity development.