Abia State jumps 26 spots into top ten in 2025 index

Abia State has recorded the most significant improvement in Nigeria's annual state governance rankings, rising 26 places to enter the top ten, according to the newly released 2025 State Performance Index. The assessment, compiled by Phillips Consulting, ranked Lagos as the nation's best-performing state, followed by Ogun and Kaduna, with Adamawa and Niger completing the top five.

The index, which evaluates all 36 states, combines objective performance data with citizen perception surveys. Seventy percent of each state's score is derived from audited records covering fiscal management, infrastructure, healthcare, education, and economic output. The remaining thirty percent comes from a nationwide survey of nearly 9,500 respondents.

Lagos retained its top position, driven by what the report described as overwhelming fiscal strength and economic independence. The state generates approximately 69 percent of its revenue internally, the highest ratio in the country. However, the report also noted Lagos faces challenges, ranking last in debt per capita and performing poorly in public service indicators like the availability of hospitals and basic education facilities.