Transparency International ranks Nigeria 136th out of 168 nations in corruption index
Nigeria has been ranked 136th position among 168 countries in this year’s corruption index released by the Transparency International on Wednesday.
The report indicate that Nigeria dropped by one point in the TI index, which rated countries on a scale of zero (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be least corrupt). In 2014, the nation was also ranked 136th among 176 countries, but scored 27 per cent as against 26 per cent for the current year..
The TI, which has published the 'Corruption Perceptions Index' since 1995, defines corruption as “the misuse of public power for private benefits.”
TI's chair, Jose Ugaz, said that Nigeria still remained in the 136th position in a ranking of corruption in about 170 nations despite its ongoing war on graft.
He said that corruption remains a blight around the world.
He made the remark after the anti- corruption watchdog released a list of its 2015 corruption perception index.
Denmark remained at the top for the second consecutive year as the country perceived as least corrupt. It scored 91 points out of a possible 100 while North Korea and Somalia remained at the bottom with unchanged scores of 8.
Ugaz stated that 2015 was also a year when people around the world sent a strong signal to those in power that it was time to tackle corruption with various protests across the globe.
He noted that more countries however improved in 2015.
The five least corrupt countries according to Transparency International are: Denmark, Finland, Sweden, New Zealand and Netherlands. While the five most corrupt countries are: South Sudan (163) (tied with Angola), Sudan (165), Afghanistan (166), Somalia (167 tied) with North Korea.
Countries like Australia, Brazil, Libya, Spain and Turkey, have deteriorated according to TI.
According to the report, countries like Greece, Senegal and the UK are among those that have seen a significant increase in scores since 2012.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the report revealed that 40 out of the region's 46 countries showed a serious corruption problem and there was no improvement for continent powerhouses, Nigeria and South Africa.
United States and United Kingdom have reached their best rankings ever, according to the anti-corruption watchdog. The U.S. rose one spot to 16th place with a score of 76, tying with Austria.
The U.K. rose three spots to place 10th, with a score of 81 that tied it with Germany and Luxembourg. The other top spots, from second to ninth, were occupied by Finland, Sweden, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Singapore and Canada.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the report revealed that 40 out of the region's 46 countries showed a serious corruption problem and there was no improvement for continent powerhouses, Nigeria and South Africa.
United States and United Kingdom have reached their best rankings ever, according to the anti-corruption watchdog. The U.S. rose one spot to 16th place with a score of 76, tying with Austria.
The U.K. rose three spots to place 10th, with a score of 81 that tied it with Germany and Luxembourg. The other top spots, from second to ninth, were occupied by Finland, Sweden, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Singapore and Canada.