The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International Nigeria says Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive stagnated in 2025, retaining a poor score of 26 out of 100.
The 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report was released on Tuesday in Abuja by CISLAC and other accountability partners.
It showed Nigeria dropped two places globally, falling from 140th position in 2024 to 142nd out of 180 countries assessed.
CISLAC said the ranking reflected limited progress in tackling systemic corruption despite repeated reforms and enforcement actions by government institutions.
The report noted that anti-graft agencies recorded activities, but outcomes failed to translate into improved public trust or stronger institutional credibility.
Speaking on the report, CISLAC Executive Director, Mr Auwal Rafsanjani, said Nigeria recorded only modest improvements in specific areas.
‘Despite serious institutional challenges, Nigeria recorded notable progress in asset recovery, international compliance, and civic engagement’, he said.
He cited recoveries by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission as encouraging, though insufficient.
Rafsanjani also referenced Nigeria’s removal from the FATF grey list in October 2025 as evidence of institutional resilience.
Rafsanjani attributed the marginal gains to improved asset recovery, exit from the Financial Action Task Force grey list, and sustained civil society advocacy.
Umar Yakubu, Executive Director of the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, Umar Yakubu identified persistent weaknesses across key governance sectors.
Yakubu pointed to judicial integrity concerns, legislative corruption, oil theft, and subsidy fraud as major obstacles to reform.
