Nigeria has shown a modest improvement in its fight against corruption, climbing five places to 145th out of 180 countries in Transparency International Nigeria’s 2023 Corruption Perception Index (CPI).

While this marks a positive step, experts and activists caution that significant challenges persist in the nation’s battle against graft.

The 2023 CPI, released on Tuesday, shows Nigeria scoring 25 out of 100 points, still below the Sub-Saharan African average of 33. Notably, this represents the first index under the new Presidency of Bola Tinubu.

Despite the modest progress, concerns were raised by several speakers at the official launch in Abuja. Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), noted the need for sustained national and regional efforts to “defeat corruption and corrupt practices.”

He pointed to the continued prevalence of political appointments rewarding alleged looting as a key contributor to the score.

Country Director of Accountability Lab Nigeria, Friday Odeh, highlighted specific areas demanding improvement. He identified electoral corruption, dwindling faith in the independence of the judiciary, and rampant corruption within the security sector as critical weaknesses undermining the fight against graft.

Odeh cited the controversial 2023 elections and questioned rulings by different courts as examples of issues plaguing both sectors.

The security sector, in particular, was flagged as a concern due to its disproportionately high budget allocation, estimated at 13.4% of the national budget.

Odeh questioned the efficacy of the sector, stating, “We no longer know if protecting the lives and property of citizens is the priority. Continuous corruption and wasteful expenditure in the security sector are likely to determine the success or failure of the development objectives of this new administration.”

The 2023 CPI draws data from eight independent sources, including the Bertelsmann Foundation Transformation Index, Economist Intelligence Unit Country Ratings, and the World Bank Country Policy and Institutional Assessment.

These provide a multifaceted view of perceived corruption levels across various sectors and institutions.