Nigeria places 116th in the 2025 Good Governance Index, falling short of Africa's leading five countries.
Africa's Governance Rankings: 2025 CGGI Reveals Mixed Results
The Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), a comprehensive measure of national government capability and effectiveness, has released its 2025 edition. This year's report, compiled by the Chandler Institute of Governance (CIG), sheds light on the governance performances of various African countries.
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are the African countries ranked in the 2025 CGGI.
Nigeria, the most populous African nation, finds itself ranked 116th in the index, revealing deep structural governance challenges. The country's performance was particularly poor in Leadership and Foresight (110th), Robust Laws and Policies (112th), Strong Institutions (114th), Attractive Marketplace (114th), Global Influence and Reputation (120th), and Helping People Rise (120th).
Tanzania and Rwanda showed notable improvements between 2021 and 2025, while most other African countries, including Nigeria, dropped in position. Mauritius, Rwanda, Botswana, Morocco, and South Africa emerged as the top five performers in Africa.
The CGGI assesses countries based on seven broad pillars: Leadership and Foresight, Robust Laws and Policies, Strong Institutions, Financial Stewardship, Attractive Marketplace, Global Influence and Reputation, and Helping People Rise. While Strong Institutions have shown improvement in the region, the remaining two pillars have recorded flat performance.
The average score for Financial Stewardship, Global Influence & Reputation, and Helping People Rise has declined across Africa. Financial Stewardship has experienced the most sustained decline in Africa, as fiscal envelopes tighten and government debt burdens bite.
In a separate report, Nigeria's score in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranks higher than its record low of 6.90 points in 1996, but lower than its all-time high of 28.00 points in 2016. Nigeria recorded a slight improvement in Transparency International's (TI) 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), ranking 140 out of 180 countries.
Despite these challenges, there's a glimmer of hope. The CGGI, in its mission to promote good governance, provides a roadmap for improvement. By addressing the identified challenges, African nations can strive towards a future of strong, effective, and accountable governments.
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