Nigeria is a great nation with high morals in the society, when it comes to moral values Nigeria is one of the best nations, However that great morals which we were known for all over the world has been defeated and below are some remote causes.
Decline in Parental Authority and Domestic Values The family is universally acknowledged as the fundamental and indispensable cell of all human societies. The family may be regarded as the cradle of civil society, and it is in great measure within the circle of family life that the destiny of the state is fostered. The larger society, the nation, derives its moral tone fundamentally from that of the family. Hence, the strategic importance of domestic life in the moral life of the nation cannot be over looked. However, in recent times, the family and its traditional influence and values are under serious stress in Nigeria. According to Iwe (1987), the paterfamilias, the head of the family, is steadily losing ground and influence. His headship or authority is no longer unquestionable. The loyalty of his wife and the piety of his children are not easily taken for granted and assured nowadays. In many homes, many fathers have ceased to lead by exemplary lives. Some have become over-indulging and permissive towards their children, to whom they have unwittingly issued tickets of indiscipline and licentiousness. Others have passively succumbed to the unedifying prodding and claims of their spouses. Today the weak, irresponsible and indiscipline paterfamilias have become a domestic liability of serious social concern. The materfamilias or house wives are traditionally and normally the corner-stone of domestic stability, the symbol of domestic loyalty, and patient serenity, the inspirer of domestic thrift and economy, industry and peace. Today in our midst, the opposite is fast becoming the case. These have created serious moral lapse in most families, thereby creating a state of moral decay in the society.
Poverty There is a high rate of poverty in the society owing to lack of social justice, as a result, people tend to indulge in immoral activities, just to make the ends meet. Tutu (1999) asserted that people become poor due to oppression and injustice brought about by unjust social structures. Stott (1984) postulated that the poor are deprived of the opportunity of having access to food, clothing and shelter. He maintained that the poor constitute a group of powerless people who are socially and politically oppressed. O’ Donovan (2000) said that poverty is responsible for the high rate of crime in the urban cities. Poverty is one of the major causes of stealing, prostitution, drug addiction, armed robbery, militancy, kidnapping and crisis in the society. As a result of poverty, some young girls have taken to prostitution as a means of livelihood. The after-effects of prostitution have resulted to some young girls contracting AIDS and other venereal diseases while others have met their premature deaths owing to abortion. This accounts for the rapid spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases in the society.
Loss of integrity among international community This is one of the major effects of moral degeneration in Nigeria. The involvement of Nigerian leaders in corruption and other immoral acts has dented the image of the country in the international community. Ituma, (2008) painted the picture thus: The image of the country in the international arena has become so battered that every Nigerian should psychologically feel a scorching hurt inflicted on his individual psyche. The dent has gone so far that everywhere in the world Nigerians are said to be generally dreaded like mad dogs and criminals, cautiously approached like dangerous snakes, and avoided like lepers.
Source.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342782824_ARTICLE_Addressing_Moral_Decadence_in_Contemporary_Nigerian_Society_The_Religious_Option