Breaking: Nigeria rises in corruption index as details emerge

DDM News

(DDM) – Nigeria has moved up five places in the latest global Corruption Perception Index by Trading Economics, ranking 140th out of 180 countries compared to 145th last year.

The modest climb, however, has been met with caution from analysts, who suggest the improvement may be linked more to worsening conditions in other nations than to a major anti-corruption breakthrough at home.

In Africa, the picture was mixed. Ivory Coast recorded a significant jump from 87th to 69th, while Rwanda advanced from 49th to 43rd. Ghana slipped to 80th but still maintained a position far ahead of Nigeria.

Globally, Denmark retained its top position as the least corrupt nation, followed closely by Finland and Singapore. At the bottom of the table, Somalia, South Sudan, and Venezuela remained among the most corrupt.

Experts in Nigeria argue that the country’s poor standing is fuelled by persistent issues such as selective enforcement of anti-graft laws, political interference in investigations, and a lack of transparency in procurement processes.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged to strengthen anti-corruption agencies and cut government waste, but critics say enforcement remains selective, with political opponents often targeted while allies escape scrutiny.

Economists warn that without sweeping institutional reforms, Nigeria risks discouraging foreign investment and undermining its plans for economic diversification.

Civil society groups are calling for more robust whistleblower protections, greater judicial independence, and the digitalisation of public services to reduce opportunities for bribery.

Observers note that while the five-place jump may slightly improve Nigeria’s international image, the real measure of progress lies in tangible reforms that citizens can witness in everyday governance.

They stress that without visible accountability and systemic change, the index improvement will remain a statistical anomaly rather than a reflection of real progress in tackling corruption.

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