Nigeria has been ranked among the worst-governed countries in Africa, according to the 2024 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG).
The report, published by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, revealed that Nigeria slipped three places, now ranking 33rd out of 54 African nations.
This marks a concerning deterioration in governance over the past decade, making Nigeria one of the 11 African countries with the worst governance decline since 2014.
The IIAG, which has been published since 2007, provides a comprehensive assessment of governance across the African continent.
It evaluates countries based on various metrics, including security, rule of law, economic opportunities, human development and participation in democratic processes.
The data is collected from 49 independent sources to gauge how well African countries have managed governance over the years.
In Nigeria’s case, the 2024 report highlighted significant governance failures. The country scored poorly on key indicators, such as security and rule of law (39%), accountability and transparency (47.3%), and anti-corruption efforts, where it received a particularly low score of 28.9%.
The report also revealed that Nigeria’s performance on social protection, inclusion, equality, and infrastructure remained low, contributing to its poor governance rating.
Moreover, the report shows that the governance crisis in Africa is part of a continental trend, as security challenges and shrinking democratic spaces have hampered progress.
Mo Ibrahim, the foundation’s chair, stated that the governance backslide in countries like Nigeria threatens the economic and social development gains made in recent years.
He noted that while the challenges are global, they are especially problematic for Africa, where long-standing developmental issues are exacerbated by these governance failures.
Despite the worrying trends, the report did highlight success stories across the continent. Countries such as Seychelles, Gambia, and Sierra Leone showed improvement in governance
Seychelles, for instance, overtook Mauritius as the best-governed African nation, showcasing that progress is possible even amid broader continental challenges.
In contrast, Nigeria finds itself grouped with countries like Sudan, Mozambique, and Senegal, all of which experienced significant governance deterioration in the last decade.