Shocking Decline: Nigeria Ranks 36th in Global Corruption Index 2024

Shocking Decline: Nigeria Ranks 36th in Global Corruption Index 2024

Nigeria has once again found itself among the most corrupt countries in the world, ranking 36th in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International.

The 2024 report, published on Tuesday, evaluated 180 nations based on public sector corruption, scoring them on a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 represents extreme corruption and 100 signifies a clean system. Nigeria scored 26 points, sharing its position with Uganda, Mexico, Madagascar, Iraq, and Cameroon.

Although Nigeria gained one point compared to its 2023 ranking, the improvement remains marginal. The country’s struggle against corruption continues, with experts warning that deep-rooted issues still persist.

Denmark emerged as the least corrupt country, securing 90 points, followed by Finland with 88 points and Singapore with 84 points. European nations dominated the top 10 least corrupt countries, with no African country making the list.

Cape Verde, which ranked 35th globally with 62 points, was recognized as Africa’s least corrupt country. Meanwhile, South Sudan, Somalia, and Venezuela ranked at the bottom, solidifying their status as the world’s most corrupt nations.

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Francois Valeria, Chair of Transparency International, emphasized the ongoing challenge of corruption worldwide but acknowledged that some countries have made progress.

“The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) shows that corruption is a dangerous problem in every part of the world, but change for the better is happening in many countries,” Valeria said.

She further explained how corruption poses a significant threat to climate action, hindering efforts to cut emissions and address the effects of global warming.

“The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories worldwide by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. The results are given on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean),” she added.

Since assuming office, President Bola Tinubu has repeatedly expressed his commitment to fighting corruption. However, his approach differs from that of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who campaigned on the promise of eradicating corruption through direct crackdowns.

While Buhari’s administration focused on prosecuting corrupt officials, Tinubu has advocated for systemic reforms to curb corruption rather than eliminate it entirely.

“Corruption in all ramifications is bad. There is a need to pay enough attention to the causes. Why are the people corrupt? The lack of social amenities, the lack of need in some areas, and lack of funding for children’s education,” Tinubu stated during a press interaction late last year.

He further highlighted anti-corruption mechanisms that could help prevent corrupt activities. One of his government’s most significant moves to address corruption was the removal of fuel subsidy payments, a policy long associated with financial mismanagement and fraud.

Despite these measures, critics argue that corruption remains entrenched in Nigeria’s political and economic systems. They urge stronger enforcement of anti-corruption laws, greater transparency in government contracts, and improved accountability in public spending.

The latest ranking serves as a reminder that Nigeria still faces an uphill battle in its fight against corruption. While minor improvements have been recorded, experts believe that without deeper structural changes, corruption will continue to hinder economic growth, foreign investment, and public trust in governance.