Nigeria has been ranked 116th in the 2025 edition of the Good Governance Index, underscoring the country’s ongoing struggles with governance challenges, economic instability, and institutional inefficiencies. The latest global ranking, which assesses the performance of 193 countries across key governance pillars, revealed that Nigeria fell short of making Africa’s top five despite being the continent’s largest economy and most populous nation.
The Good Governance Index evaluates countries based on factors such as political stability, rule of law, economic management, institutional quality, transparency, human rights protection, public service delivery, and accountability. While Nigeria made slight improvements in a few categories compared to previous years, persistent issues such as corruption, weak policy implementation, insecurity, and inadequate service delivery weighed heavily on its overall performance.
According to the 2025 report, African countries such as Mauritius, Seychelles, Botswana, Rwanda, and Cape Verde continued to dominate the continent’s top five rankings due to their relative stability, strong institutions, and consistent economic reforms. Nigeria, on the other hand, struggled to translate its economic potential into tangible governance outcomes. Analysts noted that despite reforms in sectors like the capital market, fiscal policy, and digital economy, systemic governance challenges have stunted broader progress.
Nigeria’s placement in the 116th position is seen as a wake-up call for policymakers, especially at a time when President Bola Tinubu’s administration has been introducing bold reforms aimed at revamping the economy and rebuilding trust in public institutions. These include subsidy removal, currency unification, and fiscal discipline measures. However, experts argue that reforms must be backed by strong governance structures to ensure equitable benefits for citizens.
The report highlighted that governance failures have undermined Nigeria’s ability to tackle poverty, unemployment, and insecurity effectively. With more than 60% of the population living below the poverty line, millions face limited access to quality education, healthcare, and social welfare. Corruption within public institutions and weak enforcement of accountability frameworks remain barriers to progress, further eroding public trust in governance.
On the political front, Nigeria has faced challenges in consolidating democratic values. Although the country continues to hold regular elections, concerns persist about transparency in electoral processes, political violence, and judicial independence. The 2023 general elections brought renewed hope for democratic consolidation, yet allegations of irregularities and legal disputes highlighted ongoing weaknesses in electoral governance.
Security was another major factor that affected Nigeria’s ranking. The report noted that recurring insurgency in the northeast, widespread banditry in the northwest, and separatist tensions in the southeast have undermined state capacity to maintain law and order. The inability to provide adequate security has also hindered economic activity in some regions, particularly agriculture and small-scale industries, which are critical for national development.
In contrast, African countries ranked ahead of Nigeria have strengthened their governance through targeted reforms. For instance, Rwanda has been recognized for its emphasis on public sector efficiency and anti-corruption measures, while Botswana and Mauritius have consistently scored high for stable democratic institutions and effective regulatory systems. This comparison highlights the gap Nigeria must bridge to become a governance leader on the continent.
Despite the sobering ranking, some experts believe Nigeria has the potential to climb significantly if it sustains recent reforms and implements governance-driven strategies. They argue that reforms in public service delivery, anti-corruption enforcement, judicial efficiency, and decentralization of governance could yield measurable improvements in future rankings. Digitalization of government services and open government initiatives are also seen as pathways to improve transparency and accountability.
The Nigerian government has acknowledged the findings of the Good Governance Index, with officials stressing that efforts are underway to address identified shortcomings. The Ministry of Finance emphasized that fiscal reforms are already restoring investor confidence, while the Central Bank of Nigeria is working to stabilize monetary policy to reduce inflation and exchange rate volatility. The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation also reiterated its commitment to institutional reforms, including strengthening the public service and improving inter-agency coordination.
Civil society organizations, however, have called for stronger political will to tackle corruption and insecurity, arguing that reforms often remain on paper without meaningful impact on ordinary citizens. They urged the government to invest in social protection, education, and job creation as part of an inclusive governance approach that leaves no one behind.
Nigeria’s poor performance in the index has broader implications for foreign investment and international relations. Global investors and development partners closely monitor governance rankings when making decisions on funding and partnerships. A low ranking may heighten concerns about risks, while improvements could attract more inflows to critical sectors like infrastructure, energy, and technology.
Ultimately, Nigeria’s 116th ranking is both a reflection of its governance struggles and a call to action. While its economic size and population give it a strategic edge, without deep-rooted governance reforms, the country risks lagging behind smaller African nations that have shown greater commitment to transparency, accountability, and institutional efficiency.
For Nigeria to climb higher in future rankings, experts recommend bold actions such as strengthening anti-corruption agencies, enforcing rule of law without bias, enhancing electoral credibility, investing in human capital, and fostering public-private partnerships for service delivery. These steps, they argue, would not only boost Nigeria’s governance score but also improve citizens’ quality of life.
As Nigeria moves forward, the challenge will be in turning economic potential into inclusive growth anchored on strong governance foundations. The 2025 Good Governance Index serves as a reminder that without accountability, transparency, and effective institutions, economic reforms alone cannot secure long-term progress.
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