Abia State has emerged as Nigeria’s most improved state in the 2025 State Performance Index (pSPI), recording a remarkable rise of 26 places to rank 10th nationally, according to the latest assessment released by Phillips Consulting.
The report ranked Lagos as the country’s best-performing state for the second consecutive year, followed by Ogun and Kaduna, while Adamawa and Niger completed the top five positions.
Abia’s climb from 36th place in 2024 to 10th in the latest ranking represented the most significant improvement recorded in the assessment. Niger State also posted an impressive performance, moving from 29th position to fifth, while Adamawa rose from 26th to fourth place.
According to the report, Lagos maintained its leadership position due to strong performance across critical governance, economic and public service indicators. Ogun and Kaduna also sustained their standing among the nation’s highest-performing states.
The remaining states in the top ten were Nasarawa in sixth position, Gombe seventh, Jigawa eighth, Plateau ninth, and Abia in tenth place.
In contrast, the report highlighted significant declines among some states. Bayelsa fell sharply from sixth position in 2024 to 29th in the latest ranking, while Kano dropped from seventh to 30th place.
Phillips Consulting attributed the shifts partly to a revised methodology introduced for the 2025 edition, which places greater emphasis on measurable outcomes, transparency, fiscal management, governance effectiveness, service delivery and economic performance.
“The revised methodology places greater emphasis on measurable outcomes and transparency, rewarding states that demonstrate stronger fiscal health, governance, service delivery and economic performance,” the report stated.
The consulting firm described the State Performance Index as more than a ranking exercise, noting that it serves as a governance assessment tool designed to identify performance gaps, encourage best practices and guide policy reforms.
“The pSPI is not merely a ranking exercise; it is a strategic tool for diagnosing performance gaps, identifying best practices, and guiding reforms that improve citizens’ quality of life,” the report added.
Beyond the rankings, the report revealed persistent challenges in governance and citizen engagement across several states, particularly at the grassroots level.
In Kogi, 82 per cent of respondents surveyed said they were unaware of projects being implemented by their local governments, while 83 per cent indicated they had no knowledge of socioeconomic programmes targeted at residents.
The report described the findings as a major concern for grassroots governance and public participation.
A similar trend was observed in Kwara, where 84 per cent of respondents reported being unaware of local government projects and 88 per cent said they had no knowledge of government socioeconomic programmes.
According to Phillips Consulting, the index is intended to provide policymakers with a transparent benchmark for evaluating performance and fostering healthy competition among subnational governments, ultimately driving better governance and improved living standards for citizens.
