Nigeria's Anti-Corruption Efforts Stagnate as Country Falls to 142nd in Global Ranking
The Federal Republic of Nigeria has experienced a concerning decline in its standing on the global stage, dropping to 142nd position in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International. This represents a two-place fall from the nation's 140th ranking in the previous year, signaling stagnation in the country's anti-corruption initiatives despite ongoing efforts to combat graft.
Nigeria's Performance Metrics and Regional Context
Nigeria scored 26 out of a possible 100 points on the CPI scale, which ranges from 0 (indicating highly corrupt) to 100 (representing very clean governance). This score remains significantly below the global average of 43 points, highlighting persistent challenges in Nigeria's public sector integrity. The country now shares its 142nd position with several nations including Cameroon, Guinea, Kyrgyzstan, Guatemala, and Papua New Guinea.
Within the African context, Nigeria trails 33 other countries on the continent, placing it among the lower-performing nations in regional anti-corruption efforts. Seychelles leads African nations with 68 points, followed by Cabo Verde at 62 points, and Botswana and Rwanda both scoring 58 points. Other African countries outperforming Nigeria include Mauritius, Namibia, Senegal, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya, and Egypt.
Transparency International's Global Assessment and Warnings
Transparency International's latest assessment reveals troubling global trends, with the worldwide average score dropping to 42 points. More than two-thirds of countries surveyed scored below 50, indicating widespread corruption challenges across multiple regions. The organization reported that 148 countries have either stagnated or worsened in their corruption perceptions since 2012, with only 32 nations demonstrating significant improvements.
Maíra Martini, Chief Executive Officer of Transparency International, issued a stark warning about the consequences of persistent corruption. "Corruption diverts crucial resources from essential services, undermines global climate action initiatives, and erodes fundamental human rights worldwide," Martini emphasized. The organization expressed particular concern about declining political will, weakening democratic institutions, and insufficient leadership in addressing corruption globally.
Domestic Implications and Expert Perspectives
The CPI ranking underscores persistent governance challenges in Africa's most populous nation, despite the existence of multiple anti-corruption agencies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). Rev. Fr. George Ehusani, a Catholic cleric and former Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, has criticized Nigeria's political leadership recruitment system, arguing that the country lags behind nations without dedicated anti-corruption institutions.
Experts speaking at recent events in Abuja have called for adaptive leadership approaches, stressing that corruption continues to weaken institutions, deepen poverty levels, and erode public trust in governance systems. The ranking comes amid ongoing domestic anti-corruption efforts, including recent petitions to the EFCC investigating alleged fraud and abuse of office in various states.
Transparency International's assessment serves as a critical reminder that Nigeria's anti-corruption journey requires renewed commitment and strategic interventions to improve its global standing and address the systemic challenges that enable corrupt practices to persist across multiple sectors of society.
