Lagos, Ogun, and Kaduna have emerged as the top three performing states in Nigeria, according to the 2025 pcl. State Performance Index (pSPI) released by Phillips Consulting.
The annual report, which evaluates all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on governance, fiscal strength, service delivery, and citizen perception, ranked Lagos State first overall, with high scores in fiscal performance despite lagging in citizen perception.
Ogun State came in second place, followed by Kaduna, Adamawa, and Niger State, which made notable progress from their previous rankings. Niger State, for instance, jumped from 29th in 2024 to 5th in 2025, while Adamawa climbed from 26th to 4th, reflecting significant improvements in governance, public trust, and fiscal transparency.
The FCT was excluded from the 2025 rankings due to a lack of its audited financial statements — a development the report described as a transparency failure.
The pSPI uses a five-tier star rating system to assess overall performance. Lagos was the only state to receive a 5-star (Exceptional) rating, while several others like Ogun, Kaduna, Adamawa, and Niger were rated 4-star (Excellent) performers.
At the bottom of the list were Kogi, Borno, and Imo, which were rated 2-star (Satisfactory), indicating challenges in both citizen satisfaction and fiscal performance.
The report’s methodology is based on 70% objective data — such as audited financials, IGR ratios, and infrastructure spending — and 30% perception data from nearly 10,000 respondents nationwide. The index is widely regarded as a critical tool for measuring transparency, accountability, and state-level governance across Nigeria.
The pSPI 2025 report signals a shift toward data-driven assessment of public service delivery and fiscal responsibility, providing citizens, investors, and policymakers with a benchmark for state performance.
Full 2025 pSPI Rankings:
- Lagos
- Ogun
- Kaduna
- Adamawa
- Niger
- Nasarawa
- Gombe
- Jigawa
- Plateau
- Abia
- Oyo
- Bauchi
- Ebonyi
- Cross River
- Kebbi
- Edo
- Delta
- Kwara
- Yobe
- Enugu
- Akwa Ibom
- Osun
- Benue
- Taraba
- Rivers
- Ekiti
- Ondo
- Zamfara
- Bayelsa
- Kano
- Imo
- Katsina
- Sokoto
- Anambra
- Kogi
- Borno
FCT — Not ranked
