Perception of corruption worsens in Nigeria – Transparency International Report

A new report by Transparency International revealed the perception of corruption in Nigeria worsened between 2016 and 2017.

While the country scored 27/100 and was ranked 136th in 2016, the latest CPI scores Nigeria 28/100 but with a rank of No. 148 out of 180 countries surveyed -- a significant 12 places below where it was the previous year.

With the one-point reduction in the score, Nigeria slipped in the country-ranking by 12 positions, from 136 in 2016 to 148 in 2017.

The results show a slight deterioration in perception of corruption in public administration in Nigeria compared to 2016.

The index, which ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption in the opinion of experts and business people, uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean, according to TI.

On the African continent, Nigeria ranks 32nd position in Africa out of 52 assessed countries in 2017 while Botswana leads the continent with the record of competent and largely corruption-free public administration. Nigeria hopelessly falls behind with 27 points, the report stated.

In West Africa, Nigeria is the second worst country out of 17 countries, leaving only Guinea Bissau behind.

An analysis by TheCable shows that Kenya, which was rated more corrupt than Nigeria in 2016, has now overtaken the west African country, climbing to 143 from 145.

Other sub Saharan African countries ranked higher than Nigeria are Botswana -- whose joint 34 rank is the best in Africa -- as well as Rwanda (joint 48) and Nambia (joint 53).

Nigeria is ranked 148 along with Guinea and Comoros.

In 2015, Nigeria scored 26/100 and was ranked 136 -- although only 168 countries and territories were surveyed then.

New Zealand maintains the No. 1 rank with a score of 89/100, Denmark No. 2 with 88, while Finland, Norway and Switzerland are joint No. 3 with 85.

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is one of the most respected international measurement of corruption trends. It was established in 1995 as a composite indicator used to measure perceptions of corruption in the public sector in different countries around the world. The CPI draws upon a number of available sources which capture perceptions of corruption.