(Ecofin Agency) - Nigeria, a country of more than 180 million people, has maintained its position as 136th out of the 176 on the list of world’s most corrupt countries in 2016, according to global anti-corruption agency, Transparency International (TI). The Organization, in its Corruption Perception index 2016, placed Nigeria in the same position as 2015 with 28 points, two points higher than 2015.

According to the organization, Nigeria was ranked based on the fact that “the citizens are deprived of their most basic needs and go to bed hungry every night because of corruption, while the powerful and corrupt enjoy lavish lifestyles with impunity,” it said.

The report emphasized on the lack of “untrustworthy and badly functioning public institutions like the police and judiciary. Even where anti-corruption laws are on the books, in practice they're often skirted or ignored. People frequently face situations of bribery and extortion, rely on basic services that have been undermined by the misappropriation of funds, and confront official indifference when seeking redress from authorities that are on the take.”

In the index, Denmark continues to lead as the first country in the world where corruption is less noticeable, followed by New Zealand and Finland with 90 and 89 points respectively.

These countries were ranked based on their “higher degrees of freedom of the press, access to information on public spending, higher standards of integrity for public servants and independent judicial systems,” Transparency International said.

Meanwhile, in sub-Saharan Africa, Botswana is leading with the 35th position, followed by Cape Verde with the 38th position, Rwanda and Mauritius both at the 50th place, Mali (72nd), Benin (95th) and Niger (101st).

Anita Fatunji