Abia Ranks Nigeria’s 3rd Most Improved State in 2026 Index

The Abia State Government has been ranked the third most improved state in Nigeria in the latest 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Index, recently released by Phillips Consulting.
According to the report, governance under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti has recorded significant improvements across critical sectors, reflecting the administration’s commitment to delivering quality governance and sustainable development.
This was disclosed by Governor Alex Otti on Thursday during the July edition of his monthly media chat held at the Government House, Umuahia.
The information was contained in a statement issued by the Head of Information, Government House, Umuahia, Mr. Divine Nwankwo, and posted on his official Facebook page.
Governor Otti attributed Abia State’s remarkable rise in the performance ranking to his administration’s sustained investments in healthcare, education, infrastructure, and governance.
He noted that the latest assessment demonstrates that the government’s reforms are beginning to have a measurable and positive impact on the lives of Abia residents.
“You will recall that between 2023 and 2024, our state was ranked 36th. In 2025, we moved from 36th position to 10th, and with the current report, we are now ranked third, behind Jigawa, which came second, and Enugu, which emerged first. These reports assess several governance indicators. It will be worthwhile to obtain a copy and study it to better understand the evaluation process,” Governor Otti stated.
The Governor also disclosed that Abia State recorded outstanding performance in reducing maternal and infant mortality, according to the recently released first-quarter 2026 national health report.
He noted that the health sector remains one of the administration’s greatest success stories, particularly in lowering maternal and infant mortality rates, while enrolment into the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme continues to increase steadily.
Governor Otti revealed that 144 out of the state’s 200 Primary Healthcare Centres have been fully functional, while an additional 77 centres renovated through a World Bank-supported intervention have also been completed. He added that about 30 more healthcare facilities are expected to become operational in the near future, further strengthening access to quality healthcare across the state.
On transportation, the Governor announced that the state government has taken delivery of another batch of 20 electric buses to expand the state’s mass transit system.
He said the buses are expected to operate on routes including Umuahia–Bende–Arochukwu, Umuahia–Uturu (ABSU), Umuahia–Umudike–Ikwuano, Aba–Owerri, and Aba–Ukwa, among others.
He further disclosed that surveillance systems have been installed in all the buses to monitor drivers’ activities and enhance accountability. According to him, the pilot and co-pilot of Bus 8, whose misconduct was captured by the monitoring system, have already been disciplined.
Governor Otti also stated that construction work at the Aba Bus Terminal is progressing steadily, while the first phase of the Ekeoma Market remodelling project has been completed and will soon be commissioned.
Speaking on land administration reforms, the Governor revealed that the state government has issued 4,923 Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-Os) over the past three years, with nearly 1,000 certificates processed in 2026 alone.
He added that the digital mapping of Abia State has been completed in partnership with UN-Habitat, paving the way for a fully digitised land administration system that will eliminate fraudulent land transactions, improve transparency, and significantly speed up property documentation and processing.
On education, Governor Otti said the administration has continued to expand its Smart School initiative. He disclosed that two out of the proposed 20 Smart Schools have already been completed and commissioned, assuring residents that the remaining 18 schools would be completed and commissioned in due course.
“The idea is to expose our children to modern technology from an early age and prepare them to compete successfully in today’s digital world,” the Governor explained.
Governor Otti acknowledged that the ongoing rainy season has slowed the pace of road construction across parts of the state but assured residents that work is continuing on major road projects.
While expressing sympathy to communities affected by recent flooding, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to investing in durable drainage infrastructure capable of providing lasting solutions to flooding.
“We are constructing drainage channels that will rapidly evacuate floodwater from our roads. Our goal is to permanently solve the flooding problem,” he said.
The Governor also acknowledged public concerns over the rising cost of house rents in Aba and the Umuahia metropolis.
He attributed the increase largely to growing demand for accommodation arising from improved economic activities in the state.
To address the housing deficit, he announced that the government would soon flag off the Pocket Layout Housing Project in Umuahia to expand housing availability and moderate rental costs.
Governor Otti described the recent visit of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as a major boost to Abia State’s creative economy. He announced that the state government has opened a dedicated bank account for the Akwete Cloth Production Hub to facilitate the transparent management of funds for the project.
He further disclosed that the First Lady has authorised the release of the financial support she pledged for the Akwete Women’s Cloth Production Hub. According to him, the state government will officially announce the receipt of the funds once they are credited.
The Governor urged residents to promote and preserve the rich cultural heritage of the state by wearing, patronising, and supporting the locally woven Akwete fabric.
Governor Otti also commended residents for their increasing compliance with the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, stressing that environmental cleanliness should become a permanent culture rather than a routine exercise.
He equally praised the security agencies for sustaining peace and public order across the state and congratulated the Commissioner of Police on his recent promotion to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), describing the elevation as well deserved and a recognition of his dedication to service.