A new governance performance review has ranked Zamfara, Kwara, and Benue as the worst-managed states in Nigeria between 2023 and 2025.
The ranking was released on Monday in London by the Good Governance Rating Index (GGRI), a UK-based organisation that tracks leadership quality, service delivery, and accountability in developing democracies.
According to the midterm report, the three states led by Governors Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), and Hyacinth Alia (Benue) performed below the national average across key indicators, including health, education, infrastructure, economic opportunities, transparency, and security.
GGRI said its findings were based on government data, independent audits, field surveys, and citizen feedback between May 2023 and August 2025.
Zamfara ranked lowest overall, with the report highlighting deepening insecurity, corruption, poor infrastructure, and collapsing education and health systems. The state was described as having “no clear developmental agenda,” with billions in security votes failing to improve safety or basic services.
Kwara was ranked second-worst, with GGRI citing worsening poverty, stagnating economic activity, and crumbling infrastructure. It noted that schools are underfunded, health facilities poorly equipped, and urban centres plagued by environmental decay.
Benue placed third-worst, with the organisation pointing to insecurity, abandoned rural infrastructure, and growing poverty. It said displaced persons remain without resettlement plans, while corruption and weak governance continue to worsen living conditions.
GGRI warned that the poor performance of the three states has wider implications for Nigeria’s human development index and democratic stability. It called for urgent interventions in education, health, and security, stronger accountability frameworks, and greater pressure from citizens to demand results from their leaders.
