A frontline account of how to fight corruption from Nigeria's former finance minister Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala. In Fighting Corruption Is Dangerous Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has written a primer
for those working to root out corruption and disrupt vested interests. Drawing on her
experience as Nigeria's finance minister and that of her team she describes dangers pitfalls
and successes in fighting corruption. She provides practical lessons learned and tells how
anti-corruption advocates need to equip themselves. Okonjo-Iweala details the numerous ways in
which corruption can divert resources away from development rewarding the unscrupulous and
depriving poor people of services. Okonjo-Iweala discovered just how dangerous fighting
corruption could be when her 83-year-old mother was kidnapped in 2012 by forces who objected to
some of the government's efforts at reforms led by Okonjo-Iweala—in particular a crackdown on
fraudulent claims for oil subsidy payments a huge drain on the country's finances. The
kidnappers' first demand was that Okonjo-Iweala resign from her position on live television and
leave the country. Okonjo-Iweala did not resign her mother escaped and the program of
economic reforms continued. "Telling my story is risky ” Okonjo-Iweala writes. "But not telling
it is also dangerous.” Her book ultimately leaves us with hope showing that victories are
possible in the fight against corruption.
