Published 22nd Feb, 2023

By Joseph Adeiye

Nigeria has maintained its lowest ever anti-corruption ranking, according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).

Transparency International shared its CPI for 2022 on Wednesday and Nigeria scored 24 out of a possible 100 points. On the scale, 100 points is very clean while 0 is very corrupt.

Transparency International’s CPI reveals that about 95% of the ranked countries have made little to no progress in the fight against corruption since 2017.

The Corruption Perceptions Index 2022 shows that most of the world continues to fail to fight corruption: 95% of countries have made little to no progress since 2017. Check out the results! ➡️ https://t.co/rqJYDMyUXx #CPI2022 pic.twitter.com/JiD9cHq1kC
— Transparency International (@anticorruption) February 22, 2023

Nigeria ranks 150th among 180 countries. It is one of 124 countries stuck on the same CPI rank.

“Corruption fuels impunity and undermines state legitimacy. By affecting the operation of law enforcement agencies, the courts and the prison system, corruption weakens the rule of law and the basic principle of equality before the law,” Transparency International’s CPI states.

“Criminals are often aided by the complicity of corrupt public officials, police officers, prosecutors and judges, which allows them to operate with impunity. Where corruption levels are high, money and influence may decide which cases are prioritised or dismissed, who gets punished and who gets to walk free.”

Transparency International suggests that anti-corruption and oversight institutions have enough independence to perform their duties without interference. It also states that public information can be more accessible and enforcement can be better.

Nigeria continues to struggle with public and private corruption. Anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) report billion-naira graft cases annually.

Muhammadu Buhari, the president of Nigeria, has failed to align an anti-corruption fighting image with corruption statistics in Nigeria. Buhari will vacate office at the end of his tenure in May, with the worst anti-corruption record, according to Transparency International.

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