Nigeria Scores 26/100 in 2025 Corruption Index, Slips Further in Global Ranking
CISLAC highlights asset recovery gains, flags judiciary, legislature, oil sector among major corruption concerns
Nigeria has recorded a stagnant performance in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), scoring 26 out of 100 and dropping two places in the global ranking, according to Transparency International (TI) and its Nigerian chapter, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC).
The report, released in Abuja on Tuesday, showed that Nigeria retained the same score it recorded in 2024 but slipped from 140th position to 142nd out of the countries assessed globally, reflecting persistent concerns about corruption in the country.
CISLAC explained that the CPI measures public sector corruption based on perceptions gathered from independent organisations, experts, and business leaders, noting that the index does not evaluate specific cases or the performance of anti-corruption agencies.
Despite the unimproved ranking, the report identified notable progress in some areas, including Nigeria’s asset recovery drive. According to CISLAC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered over ₦566 billion, about $411 million, and 1,502 properties between October 2023 and September 2025. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) also recovered ₦37.44 billion and $2.353 million in 2025 through enforcement activities.
The report further highlighted Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in October 2025 as another positive development. The country was delisted after successfully implementing a 19-point action plan to strengthen anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks.
CISLAC also commended the role of investigative journalism, civil society organisations, and active citizens in exposing corruption and promoting government accountability, describing them as critical pillars of Nigeria’s democratic system.
However, the organisation raised serious concerns over persistent corruption challenges in several sectors. It identified alleged corruption within the judiciary, including claims of nepotism, bias, and undue influence, as a major factor undermining public confidence in the justice system.
The legislature was also criticised over recurring allegations of bribery and extortion involving lawmakers. The report cited investigative findings alleging that some legislators demanded payments from tertiary institutions to approve budget allocations, as well as claims that some lawmakers allegedly paid bribes to present motions and legislative proposals.
CISLAC further identified oil theft and subsidy fraud as significant sources of financial loss, referencing an Auditor-General’s report which indicated that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited failed to account for billions of naira and foreign currency linked to oil-related transactions.
Other areas of concern highlighted in the report include corruption in the power sector, weakening opposition parties, shrinking civic space, procurement fraud, and lack of transparency in public institutions. The report also noted alleged financial mismanagement in the power sector and raised concerns about increasing attacks on journalists and civil society actors.
To address the challenges, CISLAC recommended strengthening the independence and funding of anti-corruption agencies, ensuring transparency in judicial appointments, improving oversight in the security and oil sectors, and promoting digitisation and public access to government procurement and budget processes.
The organisation also called for the passage of the Whistleblower Protection Bill, the mandatory electronic transmission of election results, and greater transparency in asset recovery and public expenditure.
CISLAC reaffirmed its willingness to collaborate with government and relevant stakeholders to promote accountability and strengthen Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework.
The Corruption Perceptions Index remains one of the most widely used global indicators for assessing public sector corruption and is often relied upon by governments, investors, and civil society organisations in shaping policy and governance reforms.