Abia State has been ranked second-highest performing state in a revised 2026 State Performance Index Report by Phillips Consulting, according to state officials.
The revised assessment placed Abia behind only Jigawa State, with a composite score of 0.55. The state recorded the largest overall improvement among the 33 states ranked, rising from 36th position in 2024 to 10th in 2025 and second in 2026 — a net gain of 34 places.
Commissioner for Information Prince Okey Kanu said in a statement that Phillips Consulting had initially released the 2026 report in July using a single Momentum Index. After a review and audit of its methodology, the firm recalculated the results.
“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,” the statement said.
“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.”
Abia led the South-East region and ranked among the strongest performers nationally. Its strongest pillar was citizen satisfaction, with a standardised score of +1.78 and an absolute score of 3.92, classified as “Good,” based on 770 responses.
Residents rated government support for business highest at 4.45, roads at 4.42 and publicity of government policies at 4.33. Lower ratings were recorded for finding employment (3.12), clean water (3.22) and law-enforcement conduct (3.56).
On fiscal indicators, Abia recorded 27 per cent revenue self-reliance, Internally Generated Revenue per capita of about N13,100, debt per capita of approximately N31,300, a 36 per cent debt-to-revenue ratio and a 70 per cent capital expenditure share. Its transparency score stood at 0.38.
Enugu ranked third nationally, while Jigawa topped the 2026 performance snapshot.
