TI corruption index: Presidency dismisses report on Nigeria

- Transparency International’s latest corruption perception index report cannot be taken seriously, according to presidential aide, Garba Shehu

- In the recent report, Nigeria was ranked the world’s 34th most corrupt nation

- According to the presidential spokesperson, the 2019 corruption index report is not “fact-based”

The presidency has reacted to Transparency International’s latest corruption index report, saying it is not factual.

Speaking during a programme Channels TV, Garba Shehu, who is the presidential spokesperson, argued that the report is only a perception and not based on facts.

Shehu stated that TI already said it themselves that the report is not research-based.

The report is based on "second-rate data – information collected here and there," the presidential spokesman said.

“The report itself is a perception index. So perception is what it is. It is different from the reality that you have on the ground," he added.

Shehu noted that the report does not take due cognisance of the reality on the ground, as he added that it is harsh on the government.

According to the aide, anybody could put together such report from press releases issued by opposition political parties.

He added that the reality on the ground is different from the report as the current administration led by President Buhari has done an excellent job in the fight against corruption and a lot has been achieved.

Nigeria scored lower than it did in 2018, emerging the world’s 34th most corrupt nation, as shown in the report.

The latest corruption index ranked Nigeria 146 out of 180 countries. The country was scored country 26 out of 100 points, which is a decline from the 2018 version.

While some Nigerians have supported the report, saying there is still massive corruption in the country, others faulted it.

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Reacting earlier to the report, Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, insisted that the latest ranking does not reflect the realities on the ground.

He said the Buhari administration has put more effort into fighting corruption and is committed to sustaining the anti-corruption war.

Nigerians in their reactions on social media criticized the current government for being corrupt like all other past governments.

Oladipo Ajayi said: "Well Nigerians know this government is haven for corrupt people but Lai will still say something different."

Onyema Henry Polygon said: "These are people who don’t get deceived with APC propaganda. They see and say things the exact way."

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