Nigerian journalists are among the worst-paid reporters in Africa, seldom given money to cover travel or other expenses, let alone paid their salaries on time.
This has affected the way stories are reported, with some of the country's most pressing events either under-reported or ignored altogether.
Amid this climate where investigative journalism is severely stifled, corrupt and illicit practices have begun to flourish.
Reporters are often seen waiting for cash handouts from politicians and government officials at press conferences, and then rarely questioning them or fact-checking.
The Listening Post's Nic Muirhead travelled to Lagos, Nigeria's media capital, to report on "brown-envelope journalism".
