Corruption in Nigeria has worsened, new Transparency International report claims

Nigeria has fallen two places on Transparency International’s annual corruption ranking, making it the world’s 34th most corrupt nation. 

The Corruption Perception Index, which was released on Thursday, gave Nigeria a score of 26 out of 100 (with 100 being the highest). This marks a fall by one point compared to 2018.

The report found Denmark to be the world’s least corrupt nation, with a score of 87, while Somalia was the most corrupt at just 9 points. 

The index compiles its scores by aggregating data from various sources, which indicate perceptions of corruption in the public sector by businesses and international observers. The index does not show real incidences of corruption but rather is an indication of how corruption is perceived by the Nigerian public and the international community. 

A spokesperson for the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani, said "The negative result from this year provokes tough questions. Despite the proclaimed war on corruption, why is Nigeria perceived by Nigerians and the international community still as very corrupt? The Government of Nigeria claims winning the war on corruption, but is this statement backed by evidence?”

Image credit: Transparency International