Nigeria has been placed 140th among 180 nations in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), according to a report released by Transparency International on Tuesday.
The country earned a score of 26 points, placing it in the same category as Uganda, Mexico, Madagascar, Iraq, and Cameroon. The index evaluates the perceived levels of public sector corruption worldwide, with scores ranging from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
Denmark was ranked as the least corrupt country with a score of 90, followed by Finland with 88 points and Singapore with 84 points. However, no African country made it into the top 10. The highest-ranked African nation was Cape Verde, which scored 62 points and secured the 35th position globally.
At the bottom of the index, South Sudan, Somalia, and Venezuela were identified as the most corrupt countries.
Reacting to the report, Transparency International Chair, Francois Valeria, emphasized that corruption remains a significant problem worldwide but noted that some nations are making positive strides in tackling it.
“The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index shows that corruption is a dangerous problem in every part of the world, but change for the better is happening in many countries,” Valeria stated.
She further warned that corruption poses a serious threat to global climate action, as it obstructs efforts to curb emissions and address environmental challenges.
The report highlighted that while 32 countries have significantly improved their rankings since 2012, 148 nations have either stagnated or deteriorated in their corruption scores.
“Over two-thirds of countries score below 50, meaning billions of people live in nations where corruption destroys lives and undermines human rights,” Valeria added.
For Nigeria, the ranking underscores the ongoing struggle with corruption, which continues to hinder governance and economic progress. Despite slight improvements in 2024, the country still lags behind several African nations in anti-corruption efforts.
Seychelles remains the highest-ranked African country with a score of 72, followed by Cape Verde (62), Namibia (59), Rwanda (57), Botswana (57), and Mauritius (56). These nations have strengthened anti-corruption measures, improved accountability, and introduced governance reforms, contributing to their higher rankings.
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