Nigeria has been placed 120th out of 142 countries concerning adherence to the rule of law, as per the 2023 Global Rule of Law Index released by the World Justice Project in Washington DC, United States.
Within the sub-Saharan region, the index ranks Nigeria as 23rd out of the 34 countries assessed. Additionally, in the category of order and security, Nigeria stands as the second-worst country in the sub-Saharan region, occupying the 33rd position out of 34 countries.
The World Justice Project (WJP), an independent and nonpartisan organization with a multidisciplinary focus, revealed that the rule of law has seen a decline in 78 percent of the countries studied since 2016.
The factor showing the most significant decrease between 2016 and 2023 is fundamental rights, with a decline observed in 77 percent of the countries, including Nigeria.
The Global Rule of Law Index is compiled based on extensive data, including over 149,000 household surveys and 3,400 surveys involving legal practitioners and experts.
This comprehensive approach assesses how the rule of law is experienced and perceived on a global scale.
The assessment relies on eight key indicators, including constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice, and criminal justice.
