ABIA SHOOTS TO THE TOP AS STATE RANKED NO. 1 IN NIGERIA IN 2025 HEALTH PREPAREDNESS INDEX AS SBM INTELLIGENCE REPORT VALIDATES GOVERNOR OTTI’S REFORMS

Abia State has recorded a historic milestone in Nigeria’s health sector as “SBM Intelligence, a reputable research and strategic communications consulting firm, named the State first in Nigeria in the 2025 Health Preparedness Index.”

The announcement was made on Monday by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, during a detailed briefing with journalists on the outcome of the week’s State Executive Council Meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

According to Prince Kanu, the report is a direct reflection of the far-reaching reforms and investments championed by the Otti-led administration. He noted that the current government’s deliberate, strategic, and data-driven approach to rebuilding the health sector has now placed Abia ahead of all other states in Nigeria.

“Let me start today’s briefing by informing us that recently the State recorded a very significant milestone in the health sector.

“The SBM Intelligence, a research and strategic communications consulting firm, rated the state the first in terms of health preparedness index for emergency, or put in another way, emergency preparedness report for 2025 as the first.

“The report confirmed the reforms being carried out in the Health Sector by His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti as the best in the country.

“The essence of this disclosure is to underscore the impact of the Governor’s vision and interventions in the Health Sector, which, of course, has continued to yield positive results and impact across different health and human development indices,” the Commissioner added.

Prince Kanu further revealed the metrics that elevated Abia to the top spot. He emphasised that “Abia’s improved ranking derives from a robust per capita Health spend of ₦22,962 and the consistent allocation of 15 per cent of the State budget to Health since 2023 by the present administration.”

He also disclosed that “the State now boasts of an impressive Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.674, surpassing the national average.”

Providing further technical insights, the Commissioner for Health, Prof Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, noted that the SBM ranking was derived from “credible and globally recognised data sources, including the National Bureau of Statistics, WHO, National Demographic and Health Surveys, BudgIT, the Global Data Lab among others.”

Prof Uche described the development as a major turning point for Abia, highlighting that the State’s rise “from the bottom ranks to first position marks a historic reversal as it used to be the exclusive reserve of Lagos and Ogun States.”

He added that Abia’s HDI score of “0.674 reflects improvements in life expectancy, education and per capita income,” attributing the transformation to “the administration’s sustained 15 per cent budget dedication” which has strengthened the health system at all levels.

With this groundbreaking ranking, Abia State not only cements its position as a national leader in health preparedness but also validates the Otti administration’s commitment to building a resilient, modern, and peopl e-focused health sector.