Emmanuel OchayiThe latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) has ranked Nigeria 145th among 180 countries.
The new CPI released by the Transparency International indicates that the most populous African country climbed five spots compared to the previous year. With a score of 25 out of 100 points, Nigeria shares its position with Mozambique, Madagascar, and Liberia. This improvement from the 2022 score of 24 points indicates a positive trend in Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts.
The CPI evaluates how countries have tackled corruption over time, analyzing progress and setbacks over the past decade. While many regions are grappling with stagnant or worsening corruption levels, a handful of nations, including Nigeria, have demonstrated significant improvement.
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Denmark leads the CPI with a score of 90 out of 100, followed by Finland and New Zealand. Western Europe, traditionally a high-scoring region, has seen a slight decline in its average score due to weakening checks and balances.
Sub-Saharan Africa maintains the lowest average score of 33, highlighting ongoing challenges with democracy and the rule of law. However, Nigeria’s progress underscores the potential for positive change even in regions facing significant corruption issues.
On the global scale, countries like Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, and Venezuela rank among the lowest, with scores ranging from 11 to 13 out of 100. These nations struggle with corruption and weakened justice systems, hindering accountability for public officials.
The CPI serves as a crucial tool for monitoring public sector corruption worldwide, drawing on data from various sources to provide an annual comparative assessment. While Nigeria’s ranking indicates progress, there is still work to be done to further improve transparency and integrity within the country’s governance systems.
