Nigeria Climbs Five Spots to Rank 140th in Global Corruption Perception Index

 Nigeria has moved up five places in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), ranking 140th out of 180 countries, according to Transparency International’s (TI) latest report. The index, released on Tuesday, shows Nigeria improving by ten spots compared to its 2022 ranking, but corruption remains a significant challenge.

Denmark topped the rankings as the least corrupt country with a score of 90, followed by Finland (88) and Singapore (84). Conversely, South Sudan, Somalia, and Venezuela were listed as the most corrupt nations globally.

The report noted that Nigeria shares the 140th position with Uganda, Mexico, Madagascar, Iraq, and Cameroon, all of which scored 26 points on the index. Cape Verde emerged as Africa’s least corrupt nation, ranking 35th globally with 62 points, while no African country made it into the top 10 least corrupt nations.

Transparency International’s chair, Francois Valeria, stated that while corruption remains a global issue, progress is being made in several countries. However, he cautioned that 148 countries have either stagnated or worsened in their corruption levels since 2012, emphasizing that significant efforts are still needed to combat corruption effectively.

“The 2024 CPI highlights that corruption continues to hinder progress in various sectors, including climate action, economic development, and human rights. While some countries have made improvements, billions of people still live in nations where corruption undermines governance and societal well-being,” Valeria said.

The report also reiterated the need for stringent anti-corruption policies, increased transparency, and stronger institutional frameworks to ensure lasting reforms in Nigeria and other affected nations.