By: Odeh Favour Adiya
Abia State has emerged as Nigeria’s second-highest-performing state in the revised 2026 State Performance Index Report by Phillips Consulting, recording the country’s biggest momentum gain across three editions of the assessment.
This was disclosed on Monday in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu. He revealed that the revised report placed Abia second nationally with a composite score of 0.55, trailing only Jigawa State.
According to the Commissioner, Abia moved from 36th position in 2024 to 10th in 2025, and now second in 2026. This represents a 34-place improvement, making it the largest overall gain among the 33 states ranked in the 2026 edition.
Detailing the review process, the statement partly read, “Phillips Consulting had initially launched the 2026 National Assessment Report on July 23, 2026, using a single Momentum Index to rank states on a blended score.
Following a comprehensive review and audit of the methodology, the firm corrected identified issues and recalculated the results.”
The report further noted, “The revised edition now separates current performance from progress over time, providing both a 2026 performance snapshot and a rank trajectory showing how each state’s position has changed across the three editions.”
Explaining the momentum shift, the report stated, “Under the new methodology, momentum is now measured by changes in performance rank rather than differences in scores produced using different scales. Abia’s trajectory of 36th–10th–2nd translates to a net gain of 34 places.”
Highlighting performance across regions and categories, the statement added, “The report shows Abia as the leading state in the South-East and among the strongest performers nationally.
The state recorded its strongest pillar in citizen satisfaction, with a standardised score of +1.78 and an absolute score of 3.92, classified as ‘Good’, based on 770 responses.”
Elaborating on public sentiment, the report revealed, “Residents rated government support for business highest at 4.45, roads at 4.42 and publicity of government policies at 4.33.
Areas with comparatively lower ratings included finding employment at 3.12, clean water at 3.22 and law-enforcement conduct at 3.56.”
On the state’s fiscal standing, the report captured key financial indicators including Internally Generated Revenue per capita of approximately N13,100, debt per capita of about N31,300, a 36 per cent debt-to-revenue ratio, and a 70 per cent capital expenditure share.
Regarding transparency evaluation, the report explained, “Transparency is now assessed based on the date each state published its audited accounts in relation to the statutory deadline, with states without qualifying accounts left unscored rather than automatically receiving zero.”
It added, “Abia’s transparency score was recorded at 0.38, with the revised report adopting the state’s FY2025 audited accounts, replacing the FY2024 figures used at the initial launch,” he said.
The Commissioner also said the firm had revised its assessment of debt sustainability to consider both debt per capita and debt relative to revenue, providing a broader measure of each state’s fiscal position.
Addressing regional performance, the report noted, “The South-East region featured prominently in the revised report, recording some of the greatest improvements nationally. Abia holds the highest position in the region at second nationally, followed by Enugu, which ranks third, while Jigawa occupies the top position in the 2026 performance snapshot.”
Clarifying the metrics used, the firm stated, “According to Phillips Consulting, the distinction is important: the performance ranking measures where states stand in the current edition, while the momentum measure tracks how their positions have changed over time.”
Concluding the release, he added, “The revised assessment provides a comprehensive picture of Abia’s performance, combining citizen experience, fiscal sustainability, revenue performance, transparency and the state’s trajectory across the three editions.”
