Is Nigeria really this Corrupt: ranks 144th in the World

Africa is corrupt. Nigeria is very corrupt. It's no longer news. We already used to it. The perception around the globe is always that corruption houses herself in Nigeria. Perceived Corruption High in Sub-Saharan Africa  reads a new report. More than 90 percent of African countries scored below 50 in the corruption index with the exception of Botswana, Cape Verde, and Rwanda.

The latest report by Transparency International published Tuesday December 3, 2013 revealed in the group’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2013, that Nigeria ranked is 144th, out of 177 nations in the world. The report gave each nation a score between 0 and 100. Nigeria scored 25 points out of a possible 100 points.

“The Corruption Perceptions Index 2013 demonstrates that all countries still face the threat of corruption at all levels of government, from the issuing of local permits to the enforcement of laws and regulations,” said Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International.

“The top performers clearly reveal how transparency supports accountability and can stop corruption,” said Labelle. “Still, the better performers face issues like state capture, campaign finance and the oversight of big public contracts which remain major corruption risks.” added Labelle

With a score of 63 points, Botswana, the southern African nation, is rated the top African country. It is the 30th in the world. Ghana is the star of West Africa, garnering 46 points to emerge 63rd in the world.

Denmark and New Zealand topped the list with scores of 91. Kinda ironic that the United States' scored 73 in corruption index.