- Over the past decade, Nigeria’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) score has fluctuated between 24 and 28 points, signalling unimproved performance when it comes to fighting corruption in the country
- The CPI ranks countries based on the perceived level of corruption in their public sectors, with a score of 0 indicating high corruption and 100 signifying low corruption
- TheRadar compiled the corruption perception index from 2009 to 2023 in the country
Corruption continues to be a major challenge to Nigeria's progress, as reflected in the nation's persistent ranking on the global Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International.
In the 2023 CPI, the latest and first to be released under President Bola Tinubu's administration, Nigeria improved its ranking by five places, moving up from 150th to 145th out of 180 countries assessed. The country also saw a slight increase in its score, rising by one point to 25, up from its previous score of 24 in 2022.
Nigeria's ranking on corruption perception index since 2009
The CPI ranks countries based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be, with scores ranging from 0, indicating a highly corrupt government, to 100, which denotes a very clean public sector.
Looking back over the past decade, Nigeria’s corruption ranking has fluctuated within a narrow range, mostly between 24 and 28 points. For instance, Nigeria scored 25 points in 2020, 26 points in 2019, and 27 points in both 2017 and 2018.
Nigeria’s scores over the years indicate a long-standing struggle with corruption in both public and private sectors despite numerous anti-corruption groups in the country.
Here’s a table showing Nigeria’s corruption rank out of 180 countries assessed and the corruption index from 2009 to 2023 by Transparency International:
Nigeria’s rankings on corruption index (2009-2023)
Nigeria's struggle with corruption continues as the world marks International Anti-Corruption Day
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that as International Anti-Corruption Day raised awareness about corruption globally, former President Obasanjo emphasised that tackling corruption must begin with accountability at the highest levels of government.
Obasanjo stressed the need for daily, consistent efforts in the fight against corruption, likening it to a hydra-headed problem.