China’s former Minister of Agriculture, Tang Renjian, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on Sunday, September 28, 2025, for corruption, prompting varied reactions from Nigerians on social media and raising debates about Nigeria’s own anti-corruption measures.
The People’s Court of Changchun in Jilin province found Tang guilty of accepting bribes totaling over 268 million yuan ($38 million) between 2007 and 2024. The court stated that Tang’s actions “caused particularly severe losses to the interests of the state and the people,” justifying the death penalty. However, Tang’s confession and expressed remorse led to the two-year reprieve, a common practice in China that often results in commutation to life imprisonment.
In Nigeria, we retain them, increase the portfolio and budget
This sentencing is the latest in President Xi Jinping’s aggressive anti-corruption campaign, which has targeted high-profile figures, including former defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe. Supporters of the campaign argue it fosters clean governance, while critics claim it serves as a tool for Xi to eliminate political rivals.
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Tang, who previously served as governor of Gansu province and vice chairman of Guangxi, is among the latest casualties of this sweeping purge.
In Nigeria, the news sparked a flurry of reactions online, with many drawing comparisons to the country’s own struggles with corruption. Arch Afemeke, an X user, remarked, “In Nigeria, we retain them, increase the portfolio and budget,” highlighting frustration with perceived leniency toward corrupt officials.
Ademola Afemula added, “I hope the EFCC and other agencies are learning from this example. In Nigeria, everything corrupt is celebrated with a higher position, possibly to steal more. China is not religious but patriotic, unlike Nigeria, which is very religious and unpatriotic. The difference is clear.”
I hope the EFCC and other agencies are learning from this example
Henry Moses, another commenter, noted that Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts, led by agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), focus on asset recovery and imprisonment but are hampered by political interference, judicial delays, and elite protection. Moses pointed out that adopting China’s death penalty for corruption would require constitutional amendments, a move unlikely due to human rights concerns raised by groups like Amnesty International, which argue such penalties violate international treaties and fail to deter crime.
Nigeria’s corruption challenges remain stark, with the country ranking 140 out of 180 on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index. Public discourse occasionally calls for harsher penalties, with some op-eds referencing China’s approach, but no legislative proposals have gained traction. Legal experts suggest that mirroring China’s laws, where corruption deemed “extremely serious” can warrant death, would face significant hurdles in Nigeria due to constitutional and human rights constraints.
As China’s anti-corruption campaign continues to make global headlines, Nigerians are left grappling with questions about their own system’s effectiveness. For now, the death penalty for corruption remains a distant and controversial prospect in Nigeria, with public frustration fueling calls for stronger ac countability.