₦airaland Forum

[i]Ranks first with +1.15 score, ahead of Jigawa, Abia

· Report credits governance reforms, fiscal discipline, institutional capacity

· South-east tops regional performance

· Katsina, Imo, Edo at bottom of table

· Ex-Senate President Nnamani, NASS Caucus hail governor ExecutiveBranch

· Say Mbah poster boy for good governance[/ii

Enugu State has been ranked as Nigeria’s fastest-improving state in the 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Momentum Index, outperforming 32 other states in the latest assessment of governance and development across the country.

The report assigned Enugu under Governor Peter Mbah a Momentum Score of +1.15, the highest among the 33 states assessed, placing it ahead of Jigawa, which scored +0.77, and Abia with +0.67 to complete the top three.

According to Phillips Consulting, the Momentum Index measures the rate at which states improved relative to the national average during the review period. Positive scores indicate above-average progress, while negative scores reflect slower-than-average improvement.

The report said Enugu’s emergence as the national leader reflected deliberate governance, strong fiscal discipline, and sustained implementation of reforms, while the South-east recorded the strongest overall regional performance among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Former President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani, and Enugu State Caucus of the National Assembly congratulated Mbah on Enugu’s emergence as Nigeria’s fastest-improving. They said Enugu, under Mbah’s leadership, had witnessed unprecedented transformation, thus, making him the poster boy for good subnational governance in Nigeria.

The index is one of the major additions to the 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Index (pSPI), a data-driven framework that evaluates governance and development outcomes across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Unlike traditional rankings that focus solely on current performance, the Momentum Index tracks the pace of change over time by combining objective development indicators with citizen perception to provide a broader assessment of each state’s progress.

Beyond the top three states, Osun (+0.65), Kano (+0.46), Gombe (+0.39), Akwa Ibom (+0.33), Sokoto (+0.27), Borno (+0.26), Ogun (+0.24), Ekiti (+0.19), Kogi (+0.15), Kwara (+0.08), Kaduna (+0.01) and Adamawa (+0.01) also posted positive momentum scores, signalling improvements above or broadly in line with the national average.

On the other hand, Niger (-0.03), Bauchi (-0.05), Plateau (-0.07), Lagos (-0.08), Cross River (-0.09), Bayelsa (-0.10), Taraba (-0.14), Nasarawa (-0.17), Anambra (-0.19), Delta (-0.24), Kebbi (-0.25), Oyo (-0.26), Ebonyi (-0.32), Ondo (-0.43), Benue (-0.49), Katsina (-0.66), Imo (-0.72) and Edo (-0.79) recorded below-average momentum, with Edo ranking as the least-improved state during the assessment period.

The report stated, “The highest-performing states demonstrate different pathways to improvement. Although several common themes emerge, stronger fiscal management, improvements in internally generated revenue, investments in service delivery, and prudent debt management are prominent across many leading states.

"Enugu recorded the highest Momentum Index score, supported by substantial growth in internally generated revenue through revenue administration reforms. The state now earns more than twice its federal allocation alongside notable investments in water infrastructure and sustained capital spending.”

Overall, the findings suggested that favourable economic conditions alone were not sufficient to improve momentum, stressing that states that complemented increased fiscal resources with effective governance, sound financial management, and improvements in public service delivery generally recorded stronger performance than those where these gains were not realised.

Since his assumption of office, the Enugu State governor said he had prioritised infrastructure, education, healthcare, security, and economic growth as part of an ambitious agenda to transform the state into a leading investment destination. Teaching& Classroom Resources

The government said it had embarked on the construction and rehabilitation of hundreds of kilometres of roads and bridges, launched an extensive urban renewal programme, expanded water supply projects, and invested in transport infrastructure.

In education, the government said it had begun the rollout of Smart Green Schools across the state’s wards, while the healthcare sector had seen the development of Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres and the upgrade of existing medical facilities to improve access to quality healthcare.

The administration has also pursued reforms aimed at boosting Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), improving the ease of doing business, and strengthening digital governance.

Investments in agriculture, technology and youth empowerment have been complemented by enhanced security initiatives, including the deployment of surveillance technology, and the establishment of a modern command-and-control system to support law enforcement.

Phillips Consulting explained that the Momentum Index evaluated the extent of change recorded by each state during the review period, rather than measuring absolute performance.

The report stated that Enugu’s performance demonstrated how purposeful leadership and disciplined execution of public policies could translate into measurable development outcomes within a relatively short period.

It further highlighted the state’s progress in governance effectiveness, institutional reforms, and implementation capacity, describing Enugu as one of Nigeria’s leading examples of transformational governance.

Phillips Consulting ranking provides independent validation of Enugu’s reform agenda and reinforces its position as one of Nigeria’s emerging models for sustainable development and effective governance.

Earlier, at the launch of the 2026 pSPI, Chairman of Phillips Consulting, Folusho Phillips, described the report as “a strategic national asset” capable of strengthening governance and accelerating sustainable development across Nigeria.

Phillips stated, “As Nigeria continues its journey toward sustainable economic growth and stronger institutions, access to credible evidence has never been more important. History

“The 2026 pSPI is designed to move conversations beyond assumptions and political narratives by providing a trusted framework for measuring progress, identifying opportunities, and driving accountability.

“We believe every state should see this report not merely as an assessment, but as a practical tool for improving governance, strengthening institutions, and creating better outcomes for citizens.”

Chief Operating Officer of Phillips Consulting, Olawanle Moronkeji, said the report went beyond performance measurement, describing it as “an intelligence resource” that supports policy formulation, resource allocation, investment decisions, and development planning.

Moronkeji explained, “The value of the 2026 pSPI extends far beyond performance measurement. It is an intelligence resource that supports better policy formulation, smarter resource allocation, stronger investment decisions, and more effective development interventions.

“Governments can identify where reforms are yielding results and where additional effort is required.

"Investors can better understand the operating environment across states, while development partners gain valuable insights for programme design and impact measurement.

“This is precisely the type of evidence required to support long-term national development.”

Providing further insight into the methodology, Head of the Abuja Office of Phillips Consulting, Victor Mba, explained that the 2026 edition represented a significant evolution in the assessment of state performance.

Mba said, “This year’s report represents a major advancement in our methodology. Rather than focusing solely on comparative rankings, we developed the Momentum Index better to capture the trajectory of progress within each state.

“By combining objective data with citizen perspectives, we provide a richer understanding of governance performance and development outcomes.

“The result is a report that not only tells us where states stand today but also offers practical recommendations and implementation roadmaps that leaders can use to improve performance over time.”

The report draws on the 2026 pSPI dataset, FY2024 audited state accounts, population and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) baselines, and the 2026 citizen perception survey, while the overall index combines 70 per cent objective data with 30 per cent citizen perception across seven pillars: security, education, health, basic infrastructure, governance, economic development, and fiscal performance.

The 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Momentum Index assessed 33 states and ranked them based on how far they advanced during the review period relative to the national average.

On why some states were not assessed, Phillips Consulting stated, “Two states, the FCT and Rivers, had not published their FY2024 audited financial statements by the Index cut-off date (June 2026) and are therefore not included in the 2026 Momentum Index.

“Two more states, Yobe and Zamfara, did publish accounts and are fully assessed on the objective measures, but returned too few survey responses for their citizen verdict to be reliable.”

Nnamani and the Enugu State caucus at the National Assembly congratulated Mbah on the state’s emergence as Nigeria’s fastest-improving state. They said Mbah’s leadership had brought unprecedented transformation to Enugu State, making the governor the poster boy for good subnational governance in Nigeria. History

In a statement he released at his Amechi Uwani country home, Enugu South Local Government Area, Enugu State, yesterday, Nnamani said the rating did not come to the country as a surprise. He said any discussion about good governance in Nigeria today without a mention of Enugu State and Mbah in the lead would be viewed as a mistake.

The former senate president stated, “This is good news for the people of Enugu State and I join other well-meaning Nigerians and lovers of democracy and good governance in congratulating Governor Peter Mbah on this achievement.

“The truth, however, is that it did not come as a surprise to us, the people of Enugu State and those who have followed development in the state since the governor assumed office in May 2023. Indeed, any discussion about good governance and transformative leadership without the mention of Enugu State under Governor Mbah’s leadership could only be a mistake.

“From the security sector to the health, education, agriculture, transport, tourism sectors and infrastructure, he has turned the state around in just three years and achieved what many could not achieve in eight years.

“The Philips Report justifies his endorsement for a second term by each of the three senatorial districts of the state because he is not presenting a promissory note. We will all be enthusiastically campaigning for him on the strength of his outstanding performance.

“Like him or hate him, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah is no doubt the poster boy for good sub-national governance in Nigeria today and we are very proud of him.”

Similarly, in a statement signed on its behalf by former Minority Whip of the Senate, Senator Osita Ngwu, the Enugu State Caucus of the National Assembly commended Mbah for making the state proud.

The caucus stated, “On behalf of our constituents, the entire good people of Enugu State, we congratulate our dear governor for putting Enugu State on the map yet again.

“The Philips Consulting 2026 Momentum Index ranking fully reflects the scale of good governance and uncommon development across all sectors in the state.

“Under Governor Peter Mbah’s leadership, Enugu State has no doubt reclaimed its pre-eminence as a destination of choice for business, investment, tourism, and for living, thanks to his visionary leadership and heavy investment in socioeconomic infrastructure.

“The report is another testimony that the administration’s vision to grow the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion is very much on course.

“We, therefore, pledge our continued support to ensure that this momentum is not only sustained, but also continues on the upward trajectory.”

https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/07/27/mbahs-enugu-emerges-nigerias-fastest-improving-state-in-phillips-consulting-index/

You sure that there were no lobbyists?

Putinofrussia:
You sure that there was no lobbyists?

Lobbyists, just because you heard “Enugu State”.

If it were a state outside the SE, you would believe it immediately and start jumping up and down.

The day Nigeria does away with people like you and your gang, that’s the day Nigeria’s redemption will start.

Putinofrussia:
You sure that there was no lobbyists?

Is that a surprise when they are the only state to substantially increase revenue?

No, it's Abia not Enugu. Abia is the best state in the whole of Africa.

In obidients voice....

Just cos Enugu governor is of the APC party.

Either they like it or not APC is still the most popular political party is south east. With 3 stares out of 5. That's 60 percent, no other party is even close.

Not that I am an apc member or supporter, just want to whyne their emotional brain this morning.

But na otti the. Dey shout with shadow projects,which sane person will see the strides of Mbah and still be singing praises of otti,a governor that built power plant from scratch and disconnected Abia from national grid within 3months in office…jokers

Confusion go dey this thread.

How can i relocate to Enugu?

Do they accept people from other tribes?



I just like Mba!

Not true o. Abia is the fastest any day, any Time. Philips Consulting that can be paid to praise states and individuals companies. 😂

Wish Enugu State govt will key into moderate tax system, reduction of fees in higher of learning & rehabilitation of Abakpa tribute roads.

Let them be there comparing “what each region contributed vs what they received “

Cantona77:
Wish Enugu State govt will key into moderate tax system, reduction of fees in higher of learning & rehabilitation of Abakpa tribute roads.

The tax is very moderate less than 50k per capita
Igbos are not used to tax reason they complain

I have always the best way to get Nigerians involve in politics is to Tax them very well

I like how SE is quietly leading in all human development indexes.

The other day it was Abia state.

Ebonyi state needs to flush out that governor. Ebonyi is lagging behind.

Uzodinma is doing well also.

Soludo the uneducated professor is not doing badly but can do better.

Kudos to Enugu government and the people.

Congratulations to them

I have always believed MBAH is the best first term governor in Nigeria.



Alex otti is just enjoying opposition sentiments hyper.


Above all,southeast governors are doing well.

All thanks to our action governor Peter Mbah! God really answered our prayers this time by giving us a governor with a correct head on his neck!

God bless our amiable governor Peter Mbah!

What position is Ogun State sef?

I laugh in Spanish


Zamfara too can claim that it is improving.............

Which one is Philips consulting....hope is not the one I know

echoxyz:
No, it's Abia not Enugu. Abia is the best state in the whole of Africa.

In obidients voice....

Just cos Enugu governor is of the APC party.

Either they like it or not APC is still the most popular political party is south east. With 3 stares out of 5. That's 60 percent, no other party is even close.

Not that I am an apc member or supporter, just want to whyne their emotional brain this morning.

Why people are not praising Peter Mbah has nothing to do with APC.

Dude rocketed and introduced all manner of taxes to generate revenue - the same thing that happens in Lagos. People are really complaining

This goes to show that growing IGR is no rocket science in Nigeria - it's all about increasing taxes, levies and fees.

AntiChristian:
How can i relocate to Enugu?

Do they accept people from other tribes?



I just like Mba!

Have you travelled out of your region before

Philips Consulting hosted a certified training seminar in the mid-2010s.
They said when we graduate, and need a job, we should come to them with our Philips Co. certificate.

They are now big in the Consulting Agency .

It will be a good time to reach out.

Anambra scored below average, the governor has no clear development plan just building substandard roads and charging agbero's clothes every four market days.

echoxyz:
No, it's Abia not Enugu. Abia is the best state in the whole of Africa.

In obidients voice....

Just cos Enugu governor is of the APC party.

Either they like it or not APC is still the most popular political party is south east. With 3 stares out of 5. That's 60 percent, no other party is even close.

Not that I am an apc member or supporter, just want to whyne their emotional brain this morning.

Didn't you see Abia there in top three position...this hate won't change the fact on the ground.

Who is ahead of you is ahead of you. Drink ratak.

This is terrible performance. The governor of Enugu should have saved the money

Nword22:
Didn't you see Abia there in top three position...this hate won't change the fact on the ground.

Who is ahead of you is ahead of you. Drink ratak.

Please who is ahead?

Please don't tell me your mean your side is ahead of mine.

Cos obviously that wld be a sillllly joke

echoxyz:
Please who is ahead?

Please don't tell me your mean your side is ahead of mine.

Cos obviously that wld be a sillllly joke

See someone that can't afford food..we are miles ahead of you failure.

Great job Gov Mbah.. my best governor in this current administration

Basic123:
I have always believed MBAH is the best first term governor in Nigeria.



Alex otti is just enjoying opposition sentiments hyper.


Above all,southeast governors are doing well.

Exactly

echoxyz:
No, it's Abia not Enugu. Abia is the best state in the whole of Africa.

In obidients voice....

Just cos Enugu governor is of the APC party.

Either they like it or not APC is still the most popular political party is south east. With 3 stares out of 5. That's 60 percent, no other party is even close.

Not that I am an apc member or supporter, just want to whyne their emotional brain this morning.

keep crying but in case u don't know ..Abia state is also on d list of states performing wonderfully well.....so we from d south east r proud of them all....though we don't like APC, we like our governors doing well....

lawani:
Is that a surprise when they are the only state to substantially increase revenue?

You are silent because Mbah is APC abi