Korede Abdullah in Lagos
Nigeria has ranked 140th out of 180 countries in the 2024 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International. The country scored 26 out of 100, a slight increase from 25 in 2023.
According to Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in a statement on Tuesday, “Nigeria’s 2024 CPI score is 26 out of 100, a slight increase from 25 in 2023. Its global ranking improved from 145th to 140th out of 180 countries.”
Rafsanjani noted that while this indicates a marginal positive shift, it is far from the substantial progress needed to dismantle systemic corruption.
He also highlighted that Sub-Saharan Africa holds the lowest average score at 33 out of 100, with severe pressures from climate to conflict often hampering progress in the region.
However, Nigeria’s improved ranking can be attributed to increased anti-corruption prosecutions, improvement in asset recovery, and civil society and media advocacy in the anti-corruption fight.
The CPI report emphasizes that corruption is a major obstacle to progress in many countries, including Nigeria. As Rafsanjani stated, “While the index does not show specific incidences of corruption in the country, it indicates the perception of corruption in Nigeria.”
The report also underscores the importance of continued efforts to combat corruption, particularly in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa.
