*Among lower-middle income countries, Nigeria ranks 20th out of 33
*“There is undue executive pressure and interference in institutional decay. Civil justice weakened and criminal justice’s bar lowered with improper government influence. Judiciaries are also losing ground to executive overreach more broadly”– World Justice Project 2026
*BY SOLA OBAFEMI ADEWALE/CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER, NAIJA STANDARD NEWSPAPER INC USA, reporting LIVE from Washington DC
A damning verdict on Nigeria from the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, the world’s leading source for original, independent rule of law data with rigorous methodology draws on expert and household surveys has concluded that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ranks 120 out of 143 countries in authoritarianism in the world with 62 percent in persistent global recession caused by inflation and the economic suffering of the masses.
The World Justice Project, WSJ, which embarks on its rigorous methodology drawn from expert and household surveys measures the rule of law in 143 countries and jurisdictions, covering 95% of the world’s population.
The Index report relies on more than 215,000 household surveys and 3,400 practitioners and expert surveys to measure how the rule of law is experienced and perceived worldwide. Published annually since 2009, the Index is used by governments, multilateral organizations, businesses, academia, media, and civil society organizations.
Nigeria Ranks 120 out of 143 in the WJP Rule of Law Index according to the 2026 WJP Rule of Law Index which finds authoritarian practices have become entrenched.
Nigeria’s score decreased, ranks 24 out of 34 regionally in sub-Sahara Africa.
*PICTURE: NIGERIA PRESIDENT, TINUBU THINKING OF THE WAY OUT OF INFLATION & ECONOMIC CRISES:
The report released WJP, Washington DC based group confirmed fewer countries declined this year compared to last, the global balance remains deeply uneven-with a 62% decline continuing to outnumber improvements-including Nigeria.
Nigeria’s overall rule of law score decreased by less than 1% in this year’s Index. It ranks 120th out of 143 countries worldwide.
African region’s top performer is Rwanda (ranked 40th out of 143 globally), followed by Namibia and Mauritius. The three countries with the lowest scores in the region are Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan (138th globally).
*PICTURE: HUNGRY CHILDREN FROM NIGERIA ON QUEUE FOR FOOD:
In the last year, 23 out of 34 countries declined in Sub-Saharan Africa. Of those 23 countries, 20 also declined in the previous year.
Among lower-middle income countries, Nigeria ranks 20th out of 33.
Nigeria and Global trends:
Authoritarianism is no longer an emerging trend-it has become entrenched: over 86% of countries have suffered a sustained five-year decline in at least one safeguard against authoritarian rule: constraints on government powers, open government, or fundamental rights. This includes Nigeria.
Freedoms essential to civic space, public debate and government oversight are shrinking across most countries.
Across criminal and civil systems alike, undue executive pressure and interference have become the leading drivers of institutional decay. Civil justice weakened in 64% of countries and criminal justice in 58%, with improper government influence emerging as a central factor in both areas. Judiciaries are also losing ground to executive overreach more broadly: government powers limited by the judiciary fell to 63% of countries. This includes Nigeria. In 2026, Nigeria’s overall score is 0.40.
Global rankings:
Globally, the top-ranked country in the 2026 WJP Rule of Law Index is Denmark, followed by Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Luxembourg. The country with the lowest score is Venezuela, followed by Afghanistan, Haiti, Cambodia, and Nicaragua.
WJP Rule of Law Index is the world’s leading source for original, independent rule of law data to measure the rule of law in 143 countries and jurisdictions, covering 95% of the world’s population.
About the World Justice Project:
The World Justice Project (WJP) is an independent, nonpartisan, multidisciplinary organization working to create knowledge, build awareness, and stimulate action to advance the rule of law worldwide.
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