Abia State has emerged as Nigeria’s number one state in effective public spending priorities, recording an impressive 90.9 points score in the 2026 state-by-state assessment released by SysIN Insights, an African economic intelligence and data analytics firm.
The State Government in a statement issued Friday evening and signed by Okey Kanu, the State’s Commissioner for Information, stated that the remarkable ranking has placed Abia comfortably ahead of all 35 other states in the country, establishing a significant national benchmark for how public resources are prioritised and channelled towards critical sectors of development.
According to the assessment which examined capital, health and education spending for the 2024 fiscal year across all 36 states, Abia secured the highest score of 90.9 points out of 100, ahead of Bayelsa State, which came second with 85.7 points. Akwa Ibom, followed in third position with 69.3points, while Ebonyi and Edo occupied fourth and fifth positions with 68.3 and 64.7 points, respectively.
Kanu said that the 5.2-point margin separating Abia from its closest challenger further underscored the state’s commanding position in the assessment, while the substantial gap between Abia and several other highly ranked States highlights the distinction of its spending priorities.
He said that the recognition is particularly significant for Abia under the administration of Governor Alex Otti, whose governance philosophy has consistently emphasised fiscal responsibility, prudent resource management, infrastructure renewal and strategic investments in sectors that directly improve the lives of citizens.
Kanu noted that since Governor Otti assumed office, his administration has pursued a development model that places public expenditure at the service of measurable outcomes, with considerable attention directed towards road infrastructure, healthcare delivery, education, human capital development and the revitalisation of public institutions.
He stated that Abia’s first-place position in the SysIN Insights assessment provided an important external indicator of the State’s spending priorities, particularly at a time when governments across the country are confronted with competing demands and limited resources.
Beyond the South-East, Kanu noted that the ranking also placed Abia ahead of major economic and politically influential States, including Lagos, which scored 58.2 points, Rivers with 61.2 points Delta with 60.7 points and Anambra with 64.7 points.
According to Kanu, the geographical breakdown shows that Southern States account for 17 of the 36 states assessed, while Northern States account for 19.
“However, Abia’s outstanding performance distinguishes it as the overall national leader, irrespective of regional considerations”.
The assessment was conducted by SysIN Insights, an African economic intelligence and data analytics startup founded by Musa Obed. The firm provides macroeconomic research, data-driven analysis and AI-powered insights to support investors, governments and development finance institutions.
“For Abia, this latest recognition adds another important dimension to the growing conversation around fiscal governance and development-focused public administration in the state.
“While rankings alone do not tell the entire story of governance, Abia’s 90.9 points score represents a significant acknowledgement of the importance of prioritising public expenditure and directing available resources towards critical development needs.
“With Governor Alex Otti’s administration continuing to pursue its New Abia transformation agenda, the State has once again secured a prominent position on a national performance scoreboard, reinforcing its ambition to build a government where public resources translate into tangible development and lasting benefits for the people”, Kanu stated.
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