RismadarVoice Reporters
September 28, 2026
Abia State has emerged as Nigeria’s second-highest-ranked state in the revised 2026 State Performance Index Report by Phillips Consulting, recording the biggest improvement in ranking across the three editions of the assessment.
The state, according to a statement issued on Monday by the Abia Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, recorded a composite score of 0.55, placing it behind Jigawa State.
Kanu said Abia climbed from 36th position in 2024 to 10th in 2025 and second in 2026, representing a 34-place improvement and the largest overall gain among the 33 states assessed in the 2026 edition.
Phillips Consulting initially released its 2026 National Assessment Report on July 23, but subsequently reviewed and audited its methodology after identifying issues with the initial assessment.
The revised report now distinguishes between states’ current performance and their progress over time, providing both a 2026 performance ranking and a trajectory showing changes across the three editions.
Under the revised methodology, momentum is measured by changes in a state’s performance ranking rather than differences between scores generated using different scales.
The report identified Abia as the highest-ranked state in the South-East and among the strongest performers nationally.
According to the assessment, citizen satisfaction was Abia’s strongest pillar, with a standardised score of +1.78 and an absolute score of 3.92, classified as “Good”.
The assessment was based on responses from 770 residents.
Residents gave the highest ratings to government support for businesses at 4.45, roads at 4.42 and publicity of government policies at 4.33.
Lower ratings were recorded for access to employment opportunities at 3.12, clean water at 3.22 and the conduct of law-enforcement agencies at 3.56.
On fiscal performance, the report recorded Abia’s revenue self-reliance at 27 per cent, with internally generated revenue per capita estimated at ₦13,100.
The state’s debt per capita was put at approximately ₦31,300, while its debt-to-revenue ratio stood at 36 per cent. Capital expenditure accounted for about 70 per cent.
The revised assessment also changed the methodology for measuring transparency. Rather than automatically assigning zero to states without qualifying audited accounts, the report considered the date on which each state published its audited accounts in relation to the statutory deadline.
Abia recorded a transparency score of 0.38, based on its FY2025 audited accounts, replacing the FY2024 figures used in the initial report.
Phillips Consulting also revised its assessment of debt sustainability by considering both debt per capita and debt relative to revenue.
The revised report showed significant improvements among states in the South-East.
Abia ranked second nationally, while Enugu State ranked third, with Jigawa occupying the top position in the 2026 performance ranking.
The report distinguished between the performance ranking, which measures the current position of states, and the momentum measure, which tracks changes in their positions over time.
According to the state government, the revised assessment provides a broader picture of Abia’s performance by combining citizen experience, fiscal sustainability, revenue generation, transparency and changes in its ranking across the three editions.
