Nigeria Ranked Below Average In Governance By Mo Ibrahim Foundation

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation has ranked Nigeria 35th out of 54 African countries in overall governance ranking, according to a report released in Dakar, Senegal.

Although the 2017 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) says Nigeria has shown significant improvement in governance in the last five years, it scores Nigeria 48.1 out of a possible 100.0, a score which is lower than the African average of 50.8 and the West African regional average of 53.8.

The 35th ranking is only a notch better than 36th position Nigeria held last year, despite improvements in some areas of governance.

Nigeria achieved its highest category score in Participation and Human Rights (52.5), and its lowest category score in Sustainable Economic Opportunity (42.3).

Nigeria also achieved its highest sub-category score in Rule of Law (63.1), and its lowest sub-category score in Accountability (32.7).

Other highlights of the report show that Nigeria registered an Overall Governance improvement over the decade at an annual average trend of +0.38, with the pace of improvement quickening in the last five years at an annual average trend of +0.83.

Nigeria’s Overall Governance progress over the decade is driven by three of the four categories: Participation and Human Rights (annual average trend of +0.77), Sustainable Economic Opportunity (annual average trend of +0.46) and Human Development (annual average trend of +0.66).

Overall, the report reveals that the continent’s Overall Governance trajectory remains positive on average, but in recent years has moved at a slower pace.

The eleventh edition of the IIAG looks at both country and indicator trends over the last five years (2012-2016), within the context of the last decade (2007-2016) as many countries struggle to build on recent progress or to reverse negative trends, and as concerns emerge in some key sectors.

Mo Ibrahim, Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, said: “As the index shows us, overall governance in Africa is improving. This is good news.

“However, the slowing and in some cases even reversing trends in a large number of countries, and in some key dimensions of governance, means that we must be vigilant.

“Without vigilance and sustained efforts, the progress of recent years could be in danger of vanishing.”