Domain of lies: A Nigerian reality check

In Nigeria today, leadership across the public and private sectors appears increasingly entrenched in what can only be described as an ‘empire of lies.’ From political powerhouses to corporate boardrooms, deception, half-truths, and manipulated narratives dominate decision-making processes, often with dire consequences for the nation’s integrity, economy, and social structure.

This is not merely a mental concern, as Nigerians have witnessed, time and again, how falsehoods at the highest levels can erode institutions and plunge lives into crisis. Some time ago, a suspended Central Bank of Nigeria governor was embroiled in a scandal that exposed shady dealings in Nigeria’s foreign exchange management, subsidy regimes, and monetary policies. Investigation revealed a pattern of opacity that had long plagued the nation’s apex bank.

The truth was buried under a mountain of economic jargon and manipulated figures, while millions of Nigerians bore the brunt of skyrocketing inflation and currency devaluation. As of May 2025, the naira continues to hover at over N1,500 to the dollar, and inflation has surged above 34 percent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The public are only now beginning to piece together the lies they were fed while Nigeria’s economic stability was quietly being undermined.

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Just last week, the Senate Committee on Public Accounts issued an ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), threatening to arrest its Group Chief Executive Officer over alleged mismanagement of N210 trillion.

During a heated session at the National Assembly on Thursday, June 26, the committee chairman, Ahmed Wadada, expressed outrage at the failure of NNPCL officials to honour an invitation to address audit queries spanning the period from 2017 to 2023.

This culture of dishonesty is not confined to financial institutions. In governance, many public office holders craft careful public relations narratives while failing to deliver on the most basic mandates. The political space is dominated by photo opportunities and empty speeches, even as the reality of insecurity, poverty, and crumbling infrastructure continues to define daily life for millions. The tragic killings in Plateau and Benue states earlier in June, where over 150 people lost their lives to renewed communal violence, were followed by perfunctory condolences from leaders who, in many cases, failed to proactively address the underlying causes or engage affected communities with genuine empathy or action.

“Think of the thousands of Nigerians defrauded by fake investment schemes or the vulnerable communities left exposed during the various pandemics and crises that have plagued the nation because officials downplayed the risks or mismanaged relief efforts.”

Worse still is the impunity with which misinformation is weaponised for political gain. During the 2023 general elections, a flood of fake news and manipulated data flooded social media platforms, with some political leaders and their surrogates pushing false narratives to inflame ethnic tensions or discredit opponents. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) itself came under fire for a lack of transparency in the transmission of results, despite earlier promises to adopt real-time, tech-driven processes.

This erosion of truth does not only destroy trust in institutions; it fuels cynicism, disengagement, and social unrest. A nation cannot function effectively when its citizens believe that their leaders are habitually dishonest or that the system is irreparably rigged. The rising wave of youth emigration (the Japa syndrome) is, at its core, a mass rejection of a leadership structure that thrives on lies and unfulfilled promises.

In the private sector, the situation is not much better. Recently, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) flagged several fintech companies for misleading investors through unverifiable claims about returns and operational transparency. Nigeria’s digital economy, which holds promise as a key driver of growth, is now threatened by the lack of clear regulatory oversight and the ease with which some firms can manipulate public perception through marketing tricks.

The consequences of such deception are not merely financial; they are deeply human. Think of the thousands of Nigerians defrauded by fake investment schemes or the vulnerable communities left exposed during the various pandemics and crises that had plagued the nation because officials downplayed the risks or mismanaged relief efforts. Trust, once broken, is hard to rebuild, and the Nigerian people are increasingly losing faith in those meant to serve them.

We think the way forward is within our reach; we must demand a new leadership culture, one rooted in transparency and accountability. Institutions like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Code of Conduct Bureau, and the Public Complaints Commission must be truly independent, properly funded, and shielded from political interference. They must also begin to prosecute not just the petty fraudster, but also those at the highest levels who manipulate systems and mislead the nation.

Moreover, whistleblower protections must be strengthened and enforced. The Buhari-era whistleblower policy saw some success in exposing corruption, but its implementation weakened due to lack of safeguards and institutional support. Reviving and reforming such policies under this administration could prove pivotal.

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Also, civil society, the media, and academia must remain vigilant. Nigeria’s vibrant media ecosystem and online community have played crucial roles in exposing lies, be it through investigative journalism, data verification, or social media activism. Initiatives for investigative journalism and other fact-checking bodies deserve greater support and recognition.

Above all, Nigerians must hold their leaders to account, not just during elections, but every day. Citizenship in a democracy is not passive. It requires active engagement: demanding transparency, verifying claims, and refusing to be complicit in the spread of falsehoods.

At the core of this issue is a simple truth: lies corrode the soul of a nation. Without integrity, there can be no meaningful progress. Leaders must recognise that honesty is not a luxury; it is a non-negotiable foundation for lasting change. To build a Nigeria that works, we must dismantle the empire of lies and reconstruct a republic of truth. And that begins not only with the leaders but with all of us.