…Nigeria’s 121st global position places it well behind several African countries.
…Nigeria also recorded Africa’s largest score improvements in Education and International Trade between 2021 and 2026, according to the index’s regional assessment
THUR OCT 29 2026-theGBJournal| Nigeria ranks 121st out of 133 countries in the 2026 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), placing it 25th among the 35 African countries assessed.
The country scored 0.309 on a scale of zero to one in the latest index ranking, highlighting persistent weaknesses in its ability to translate government policies and resources into effective institutions, economic opportunities and better public services.
The index assesses governments across seven areas, including leadership, the rule of law, public financial management, business conditions and citizens’ welfare.
Nigeria’s strongest performance was in Financial Stewardship, where it ranked 80th globally. Its weakest areas included Helping People Rise, at 124th, and Robust Laws & Policies, at 123rd.
The findings suggest that Nigeria’s challenge extends beyond the availability of resources. It also concerns how effectively public institutions implement policies, support businesses and deliver essential services.
Where Nigeria struggles
Nigeria ranked 122nd globally in both Strong Institutions and Attractive Marketplace.
Its position in Strong Institutions reflects weaknesses in government coordination, policy implementation and bureaucratic effectiveness. It ranked 120th for implementation and 124th for coordination.
In Attractive Marketplace, Nigeria ranked 117th for property rights and investment attraction, while its position in logistics competence was relatively better, at 87th.
The figures point to challenges facing businesses, including the predictability of government decisions, the protection of investments and the reliability of the systems needed to move goods and support production.
Nigeria also ranked 123rd in Robust Laws & Policies. Its component rankings included 113th for the rule of law, 109th for the quality of the judiciary, 115th for transparency and 120th for regulatory governance.
These indicators matter because businesses and citizens depend on laws being applied consistently, public decisions being transparent and institutions operating predictably.
Public services remain a major concern
Nigeria ranked 124th in Helping People Rise, the index’s assessment of how governments support citizens’ welfare and opportunities.
Its health ranking was particularly weak, at 132nd globally. It ranked 101st in education, 108th in employment and 123rd in price stability.
The health and price-stability figures are especially significant because they relate to people’s everyday experiences.
A government may introduce economic reforms or announce new spending programmes, but their benefits are harder for citizens to feel when healthcare remains inadequate and the cost of living continues to put pressure on household budgets.
The index does not, by itself, establish the causes of these outcomes.
However, its findings highlight areas where stronger government capacity could improve the effectiveness of public policy.
How Nigeria compares with African peers
Nigeria’s 121st global position places it well behind several African countries.
Mauritius ranked 55th globally, followed by Rwanda at 62nd, Botswana at 70th, Morocco at 79th and Tanzania at 80th. South Africa ranked 85th.
The differences are substantial. Mauritius is 66 places ahead of Nigeria, while Rwanda is 59 places ahead.
Rwanda’s performance is particularly notable in Leadership & Foresight, where it ranked 11th globally. It was also identified as the highest-ranked low-income country in the index, performing 61 places above the position predicted by its income alone.
This suggests that national income is not the only factor associated with government performance. Institutional capacity, long-term planning and effective implementation also matter.
South Africa, meanwhile, ranked 44th globally in Robust Laws & Policies and 48th in Attractive Marketplace, demonstrating relative strengths in areas where Nigeria performed poorly.
These comparisons do not mean that the better-ranked countries have solved all their governance problems. Rather, they show that African countries operate with different levels of institutional capacity and effectiveness.
Africa makes progress, but the gap remains
The 2026 index identifies some improvement across Africa. Average scores increased in six of the seven governance pillars over the past year, with the strongest gains in Helping People Rise and Financial Stewardship.
Nearly every African country assessed consistently between 2021 and 2026 also improved its Data Capability score, an indicator associated with the government’s ability to collect and use information.
Ghana improved its overall score in 2026, supported by stronger Financial Stewardship, while Morocco recorded the region’s largest gains in Data Capability over the longer period.
Nigeria also recorded Africa’s largest score improvements in Education and International Trade between 2021 and 2026, according to the index’s regional assessment.
These gains suggest that progress can occur in individual areas even when overall governance challenges remain.
However, Africa’s average score remains below its 2021 level. Of the 35 African countries included in the 2026 index, 23 ranked outside the global top 100, and none made the top 50.
X-@theGBJournal|email:gbj@govbusinessjournal.com|govandbusinessj@gmail.com
