Lagos, Ogun and Kaduna states have emerged as Nigeria’s top-performing states in the 2025 edition of the Phillips Consulting State Performance Index, a comprehensive assessment of governance, fiscal sustainability, public service delivery and citizen perception across the country.

The report ranked Lagos first nationwide, followed by Ogun in second place and Kaduna in third, placing the three states ahead of the other 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Developed by Phillips Consulting, the index combines objective performance metrics with citizen perception data to provide a holistic evaluation of subnational government performance in Nigeria.

According to the report, 70 per cent of each state’s overall score was derived from objective performance indicators sourced from audited state financial statements, official government databases, and independent research.

The remaining 30 per cent was based on a nationwide perception survey conducted over a three-month period.

The survey gathered responses from 9,498 participants through SMS, email, digital advertising, social media platforms, and face-to-face engagements across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Lagos emerged as the top-ranked state in the index, driven largely by its strong fiscal capacity and high level of economic self-sufficiency.

The report ranked the state first nationwide in internally generated revenue per capita, IGR per square kilometre, and revenue generated through trade corridors.

Approximately 69 per cent of Lagos’ total revenue is derived from internally generated sources, the highest proportion among Nigerian states and well above the national average of 18

The state also placed second in internet penetration, underscoring its status as Nigeria’s commercial and digital centre.

Despite these strengths, the assessment highlighted several areas of concern.

Lagos ranked 36th in debt per capita, reflecting a relatively high debt burden.

The state also recorded weak performances in key public service indicators, placing 32nd in public hospitals per population and 36th in functional basic education facilities per population.