Former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd.), has said the scale of corruption in Nigeria today makes the military administrations of his era appear like “saints.”

Babangida made the remark in an old interview with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) that has resurfaced online.

Reflecting on how corruption was handled during his administration, the former military leader cited the dismissal of a military governor over N300,000, saying such an amount was considered serious enough to warrant removal from office.

He contrasted the incident with the much larger sums allegedly involved in corruption cases today.

“We are not corrupt. I will proudly say it because what I read in the papers, if it is true, then I think I used to say we are saints,” Babangida said.

He added: “I keep on giving an example. I sacked a governor for N300,000. Today, there are N300 billion not solved.”

Babangida’s comments have resurfaced amid renewed public debate over the scale of corruption and accountability in Nigeria.