Nigeria has again posted a weak showing on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), underscoring lingering concerns about governance and accountability in Africa’s largest economy.
In the 2025 CPI released on Tuesday, Nigeria scored 25 out of 100, keeping the same score as the previous year but slipping two places on the global table to 142nd out of 180 countries. The ranking places Nigeria behind 33 African countries and well below both the global average score of 42 and the sub-Saharan African average of 33.
The CPI measures perceived levels of public sector corruption on a scale from zero, regarded as highly corrupt, to 100, seen as very clean. Transparency International noted that more than two-thirds of the countries assessed scored below 50, reflecting widespread governance challenges worldwide.
Within Africa, Seychelles emerged as the continent’s best performer with a score of 68, followed by Cabo Verde (62), Botswana (58) and Rwanda (58). Several countries, including Mauritius, Namibia, Senegal, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya and Egypt, also ranked ahead of Nigeria. Nigeria shares its current position with Cameroon, Guinea, Guatemala, Kyrgyzstan and Papua New Guinea.
Transparency International warned that global anti-corruption efforts are losing momentum, citing weak political commitment, eroding democratic institutions and inconsistent leadership. Its Chief Executive Officer, Maíra Martini, said many governments are failing to match rhetoric with action at a time when corruption is worsening social inequality, undermining public services and weakening responses to crises such as climate change.
Reacting to the latest ranking, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) said Nigeria’s marginal stability in the index reflects limited progress rather than meaningful reform. Its Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, pointed to ongoing prosecutions, asset recoveries and cooperation with foreign governments on the return of stolen funds as modest positives. He also cited the growing use of digital systems in taxation and procurement as steps that could strengthen transparency if sustained.
About the Author
