By Anifowoshe Oladipupo
Nigeria has once again come under critical global scrutiny, ranking 116th out of 113 countries assessed in the 2025 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), a benchmark for evaluating government effectiveness and capability.
The report paints a sobering picture of Nigeria’s governance landscape, showing deep-rooted weaknesses across several key pillars.
The country failed to make Africa’s top five performers, a list dominated by Mauritius, Rwanda, and Botswana.
Nigeria performed worst in “Helping People Rise” (120th), reflecting poor outcomes in human development and social mobility. Other low rankings were recorded in “Robust Laws and Policies” (112th) and “Strong Institutions” (114th).
A slightly stronger performance in “Financial Stewardship” (89th) offered some relief but did little to improve the country’s overall standing.
The findings highlight the urgent reforms needed to strengthen Nigeria’s public institutions, deliver better governance, and restore public trust.
Analysts warn that unless systemic changes are pursued, Nigeria risks continued decline in future assessments.
While many African countries also slipped in this year’s index, Rwanda and Tanzania stood out for making significant progress, underscoring the potential for improvement through effective leadership and policy implementation.
The CGGI ranking once again puts the spotlight on Nigeria’s governance deficit, a challenge that policymakers can no longer afford to ignore.
