Nigeria has been ranked as 140th out of 180 countries in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by the Transparency International on Tuesday.
With a score of 26 points, Nigeria shares its ranking with Uganda, Mexico, Madagascar, Iraq, and Cameroon.
The index, which assesses perceived levels of public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories, scores nations on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
Denmark emerged as the least corrupt country with 90 points, followed by Finland (88 points) and Singapore (84 points).
However, no African country made the top 10, but Cape Verde ranked as the least corrupt nation in Africa with 62 points, placing 35th overall.
At the bottom of the list, South Sudan, Somalia, and Venezuela were identified as the most corrupt countries.
Commenting on the findings, Transparency International Chair Francois Valeria stated, “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 also highlighted the negative impact of corruption on global climate action, warning that it hampers efforts to reduce emissions and address climate change.
The report noted that while 32 countries have significantly improved their corruption rankings since 2012, 148 have either stagnated or worsened.
“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.
The ranking reinforces concerns over Nigeria’s long-standing struggles with corruption, which has been a major challenge for governance and economic development in the country.
While Nigeria made slight progress in 2024, it continues to lag behind several African nations in the fight against corruption.
Seychelles remains the highest-ranked African country, scoring 72, followed by Cabo Verde (62), Namibia (59), Mauritius (56), Rwanda (57), and Botswana (57).
These countries have implemented stronger anti-corruption frameworks, accountability mechanisms, and governance reforms, contributing to their higher rankings.
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