A UK-based governance index has ranked Zamfara, Kwara, and Benue as Nigeria’s poorest-performing states, citing insecurity, corruption, and policy failure.
A new governance assessment has ranked Zamfara, Kwara, and Benue as the worst-performing states in Nigeria between 2023 and 2025. The ranking was published in a midterm report released in London by the Good Governance Rating Index (GGRI), a UK-based organisation that evaluates leadership, service delivery, and accountability in emerging democracies.
According to GGRI, the three states led by Governors Dauda Lawal, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and Hyacinth Alia performed “well below the national average” across key sectors including health, education, infrastructure, economy, transparency, and security.
Zamfara ranked lowest due to worsening insecurity and lack of developmental direction. The report noted: “Zamfara’s education sector is in ruins… maternal mortality rates remain among the highest in the country.”
Kwara placed second-worst, with GGRI accusing the state of “stagnant economic activity” and “lofty promises without impact,” while Benue was faulted for crumbling rural infrastructure and rising poverty.