Lagos State has emerged as the highest-performing state in Nigeria, securing the only five-star rating in the 2025 Phillips Consulting State Performance Index (pSPI), a comprehensive assessment of governance and development outcomes across the country.

The annual ranking, conducted by Phillips Consulting, evaluated all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory across key development indicators, including fiscal management, economic growth, infrastructure, healthcare, education, governance, environmental sustainability, and digital access.

According to the report, Lagos stood out as the sole state to attain the elite five-star category, earning an “exceptional” performance rating and ranking first overall among Nigeria’s subnational governments.

The report placed Ogun State, Kaduna State, Adamawa State, and Niger State in the four-star category, reflecting strong performances across several development metrics. However, none matched Lagos in governance effectiveness, economic resilience, and public service delivery.

The latest ranking reinforces Lagos’ position as Nigeria’s economic powerhouse and highlights the impact of sustained investments in infrastructure, transportation, technology, urban renewal, institutional reforms, and policy continuity over the years.

Phillips Consulting noted that Lagos distinguished itself through exceptional performance in internally generated revenue, infrastructure expansion, private-sector growth, and efficient public service delivery. The state maintained a significant lead in revenue generation, a critical indicator of fiscal sustainability and governmental capacity.

The report attributed much of Lagos’ success to its strategic role as Nigeria’s commercial and financial hub. Its extensive transportation network, thriving business environment, port infrastructure, and concentration of private enterprises were identified as major contributors to its dominance.

In addition, the state received recognition for its advances in innovation and digital transformation. According to the report, technology-driven governance reforms and digital service delivery initiatives have enhanced transparency, operational efficiency, and citizen engagement.

Unlike many states that remain heavily dependent on federal allocations, Lagos has consistently demonstrated a strong capacity to generate and deploy local resources to finance development projects and expand public services. This factor, the report noted, significantly influenced its overall ranking.

The 2025 edition of the State Performance Index adopted a methodology that assigned 70 per cent weight to objective development indicators and 30 per cent to citizens’ perception scores. Nearly 10,000 respondents participated in the survey, providing insights into public confidence in governance and service delivery across the federation.

Analysts say Lagos’ emergence as the only five-star state reflects not only its economic strength but also the effectiveness of governance structures built and strengthened over successive administrations.

The result is particularly significant when compared with previous editions of the index. While Lagos has consistently ranked among Nigeria’s top-performing states, the 2025 assessment revealed a wider gap between the state and its closest competitors, with no other state attaining the coveted five-star status.

Second-placed Ogun State maintained its standing as one of Nigeria’s leading industrial centres, while Kaduna, Adamawa and Niger states recorded notable improvements that earned them places in the four-star category. Their performances point to increasing competitiveness among Nigeria’s top-performing states, even as Lagos continues to set the benchmark.

Phillips Consulting stated that the objective of the index goes beyond ranking states. The firm explained that the report serves as a governance tool designed to help policymakers identify performance gaps, benchmark progress, and implement evidence-based reforms.

With its emergence as the country’s only five-star state in the 2025 State Performance Index, Lagos has further consolidated its reputation as Nigeria’s benchmark for governance, economic development, and public-sector performance, raising the standard for other states seeking to accelerate growth and improve the quality of life of their citizens