NEWS
ABIA MAKES HISTORY, RANKS NUMBER ONE IN NIGERIA FOR EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SPENDING WITH OUTSTANDING 90.9 SCORE
…as SysIN Insights Ranking Places Abia Ahead of All 35 States, Highlighting Governor Alex Otti’s Fiscal Discipline and Development-Driven Governance
Abia State has emerged as Nigeria’s number one state in effective public spending priorities, recording an impressive 90.9 per cent score in the 2026 State Spending Priorities Assessment released by SysIN Insights, an African economic intelligence and data analytics firm.
According to a press release signed by the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, on November 6, 2026, the remarkable achievement places Abia ahead of all 35 other states, establishing the state as the national leader in prioritising public expenditure and directing available resources towards critical sectors that drive development and improve citizens’ quality of life.
The assessment, which examined capital, health and education spending across Nigeria’s 36 states for the 2024 fiscal year, ranked Abia first with an outstanding 90.9 out of 100, comfortably ahead of Bayelsa State, which came second with 85.7 points.
Akwa Ibom occupied the third position with 69.3, while Ebonyi and Edo came fourth and fifth with 68.3 and 64.7 points respectively.
Significantly, the 5.2-point difference between Abia and its closest competitor underscores the state’s impressive performance, particularly considering the considerable gap between Abia and several other states occupying prominent positions on the national scoreboard.
The recognition represents another significant endorsement of the fiscal management philosophy of Governor Alex Chioma Otti’s administration, which has consistently emphasised prudent resource management, accountability, infrastructure renewal and strategic investments in sectors with direct benefits for the people.
Since assuming office, Governor Otti has pursued a development agenda anchored on the effective utilisation of public resources to deliver measurable improvements across the state. His administration has prioritised critical areas including road infrastructure, healthcare, education, human capital development and the revitalisation of public institutions.
Abia’s emergence at the top of the SysIN Insights ranking therefore provides an important external indicator of the state’s expenditure priorities and its approach to managing public resources amid competing development needs and economic challenges confronting governments across the country. Beyond the South-East, Abia’s performance is particularly noteworthy as it places the state ahead of several major economic and politically influential states.
Lagos scored 58.2, Rivers recorded 61.5, Delta had 60.7, while Anambra secured 64.7. These figures further distinguish Abia’s 90.9-point performance and reinforce its position as the overall national leader in the assessment.
The geographical breakdown of the ranking shows that 17 Southern states and 19 Northern states were assessed. However, Abia’s commanding performance places it firmly at the summit, irrespective of regional considerations.
SysIN Insights, the organisation behind the assessment, is an African economic intelligence and data analytics startup founded by Musa Obed. The firm specialises in macroeconomic research, data-driven analysis and AI-powered insights designed to support investors, governments and development finance institutions in making informed decisions.
Although rankings alone cannot capture every dimension of governance, Abia’s impressive score highlights the importance of expenditure prioritisation and the strategic allocation of public resources to essential development sectors.
For the people of Abia, this latest national recognition adds another important milestone to the state’s growing record of performance under the New Abia transformation agenda.
As Governor Alex Otti’s administration continues to pursue its vision of rebuilding institutions, expanding infrastructure, strengthening public services and creating opportunities for sustainable economic growth, the latest assessment further reinforces Abia’s growing profile as a state committed to development-oriented governance.
With 90.9 points, Abia has not only secured the top position but has also set a remarkable national benchmark in effective public spending priorities.