Jigawa State has emerged as Nigeria’s second most improved state in the Phillips Consulting (pcl.) State Performance Index (pSPI) 2026 National Assessment Report, reinforcing the state’s growing reputation for prudent governance, fiscal discipline and effective public service delivery.
The report also ranks Jigawa as the highest-performing state in the North-West geopolitical zone on its 2026 Momentum Index.
The independent assessment evaluated all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory across 37 governance and development indicators, combining 70 per cent objective data drawn from audited public financial records and other credible official sources with 30 per cent surveys on citizen perception.
The 2026 assessment replaced the conventional league table with a Momentum Index measuring each state’s progress since the previous evaluation, with Jigawa recording a score of +0.77 to rank second nationally behind Enugu.
According to the report, the state’s strong showing was driven by exceptional fiscal discipline, the lowest debt burden per capita in Nigeria, relatively stable agricultural activity despite regional security challenges, and sustained improvements in governance and public service delivery.
