2025 STATE RANKINGS: Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna, Adamawa, Niger Lead Nigeria’s Best-Performing States — pSPI Report

In a groundbreaking revelation that reshapes the conversation on governance and accountability, Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna, Adamawa, and Niger have emerged as the best-performing states in Nigeria for 2025, according to the Phillips Consulting State Performance Index (pSPI).

The pSPI, now in its second edition, is more than just a ranking system. Developed by Phillips Consulting (pcl.), it is a data-driven accountability framework designed to measure governance effectiveness across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Unlike perception-based reports, the pSPI blends hard performance data with public opinion, rewarding states that demonstrate measurable governance impact, fiscal responsibility, and sustainable reforms.

Shifts in the 2025 Rankings

This year’s index brought dramatic shifts in state positions.

Lagos State, which placed 4th in 2024, leapfrogged to 1st place in 2025, propelled by strong audited performance despite scoring relatively low in public perception.

Ogun and Kaduna maintained consistent upward momentum, securing 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.

Adamawa State, a surprise high-flier, jumped from 26th in 2024 to 5th in 2025, a feat credited to bold reform initiatives and disciplined fiscal management.

Niger State stunned analysts by climbing from 29th to 6th place, reinforcing the notion that determined reforms can drastically alter governance outcomes.


On the flip side, some states suffered heavy falls:

Gombe State, which topped the charts in 2024, plunged to 8th position after performance data exposed weaknesses that perception alone could not mask.

The FCT, Bayelsa, and Kano dropped significantly, highlighting the consequences of poor transparency and weak fiscal controls.


The Big Winners and Losers

Perhaps the most remarkable turnaround was seen in Abia State, which catapulted from 36th (last place) in 2024 to 10th in 2025, underscoring the transformative power of deliberate reforms. Meanwhile, Jigawa, with an impressive 1st position in public perception, ranked just 8th overall due to weaker data-backed results.

Top 10 Best-Performing States in Nigeria, 2025 (pSPI Ranking)

State Data Rank Public Perception Rank 2025 Position pSPI Rating

Lagos 1st 32nd 1st ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ogun 2nd 33rd 2nd ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kaduna 3rd 34th 3rd ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Adamawa 5th 4th 4th ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Niger 7th 6th 5th ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nasarawa 4th 16th 6th ⭐⭐⭐
Gombe 16th 2nd 7th ⭐⭐⭐
Jigawa 25th 1st 8th ⭐⭐⭐
Plateau 6th 12th 9th ⭐⭐⭐
Abia 12th 8th 10th ⭐⭐⭐


Beyond Rankings: A Call to Action

According to pcl., the essence of the pSPI is not just to name winners and losers but to foster a competitive governance culture where states learn from one another and adopt reform-driven strategies to improve service delivery, fiscal discipline, and citizen engagement.

The 2025 results send a clear message: states that embrace transparency, innovation, and reform can rapidly transform their fortunes—while those that rest on reputation risk falling behind.