Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Abia State has emerged as the third fastest-improving state in Nigeria, according to the 2026 Philips Consulting State Performance Index Momentum Index, a development the state government says validates the sweeping reforms and development agenda of Governor Alex Otti's administration. The ranking, released on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, placed Abia with a positive momentum score of +0.67, behind only Enugu State with +1.15 and Jigawa State with +0.77, and ahead of Osun, Kano, Gombe, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Lagos, Imo, Anambra and several other states assessed during the review period covering 33 states across the federation. The Momentum Index measures how far each state has advanced relative to the national average, with positive scores indicating faster-than-average progress and negative scores reflecting slower rates of improvement.
Reacting to the ranking in a statement issued on Thursday, July 23, 2026, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, described the report as independent confirmation of the remarkable progress being recorded under Governor Otti's leadership. "Abia's impressive performance demonstrates that the state's ongoing reforms and development initiatives are yielding measurable and nationally recognised results," Kanu said. He attributed the state's strong performance to strategic investments across critical sectors, including infrastructure, education, healthcare, digital innovation, security, agriculture, economic development and public sector reforms. Key projects such as the reconstruction of major road networks, the establishment of Smart Schools across the state, reforms in governance and revenue administration, industrial revitalisation, youth empowerment programmes and aggressive investment promotion have significantly accelerated Abia's development trajectory.
The Philips Consulting State Performance Index (pSPI) found that federal allocations to states climbed 118 per cent between 2022 and 2025, driven by reforms that boosted Federation Account receipts. Yet average citizen satisfaction with public services stood at just 2.90 out of five, with fewer than half of the country's states scoring above the report's benchmark of 3.0. "Spending is a number. Progress is an outcome," the report said, arguing that the gap between rising government receipts and citizens' experience reflects the quality of governance rather than the size of state budgets. Rather than producing another league table of the country's best-performing states, this year's report introduced a Momentum Index, measuring which administrations are improving fastest based on five indicators: citizen satisfaction, internally generated revenue relative to federal allocations, debt sustainability, revenue growth and fiscal transparency.
Abia was cited as one of the most notable improvement stories, rising from among the weakest performers two years ago to third on the momentum measure. The report also highlighted that the South-East recorded the strongest regional momentum, while the oil-producing South-South ranked last, suggesting that improvements in governance matter more than inherited revenue sources. "Momentum flows to states that govern deliberately, not those that inherit wealth," the report said. Abia topped security and public transport among states, while Gombe received the highest ratings for roads and healthcare quality, Sokoto led in education affordability and perceptions of public sector honesty, Kano ranked highest for economic opportunity, and Kogi led on access to clean water.
The ranking also reflects growing public confidence in Abia's governance model, which prioritises transparency, accountability, prudent management of public resources and people-focused policies. "The state government remains committed to consolidating the gains and accelerating development initiatives that improve the quality of life of every Abian," the statement added. "The recognition by Philips Consulting serves as an independent validation of Abia's reform journey and further strengthens the state's position as one of Nigeria's emerging models of transformational governance and inclusive development." The latest ranking adds to a growing list of national recognitions for Abia as the Otti administration continues to pursue reforms aimed at repositioning the state as a competitive destination for investment, innovation and sustainable development.
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