UYO — Akwa Ibom State has been ranked among Nigeria’s top-performing states in governance, according to the 2025 Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS) Governance Performance Index (CGPI).
The state secured a score of 64 per cent in the latest assessment, earning a place among the ten best-governed states in the country. The ranking highlights Akwa Ibom’s performance across key governance indicators and reflects growing recognition of the state’s efforts in public administration and service delivery.
The CIAPS Governance Performance Index was established as a comprehensive framework for benchmarking, documenting, measuring and promoting good governance practices across Nigeria’s 36 states. The annual assessment evaluates states based on critical governance dimensions, including e-governance, transparency, accountability, institutional effectiveness and public service delivery.
According to the 2025 CGPI Report, the index provides an evidence-based platform for comparing governance outcomes among states while identifying areas of progress and opportunities for improvement.
Analysts say Akwa Ibom’s strong showing in the ranking reflects sustained efforts by the state government to strengthen public institutions, improve service delivery and implement citizen-focused governance initiatives.
The report also underscores the importance of continued investment in sectors such as education, agriculture, tourism, rural development, innovation and transparency as key drivers of sustainable development and improved quality of life for residents.
Observers note that governance indices such as the CGPI have become important accountability tools, encouraging healthy competition among states and promoting the adoption of policies that deliver measurable benefits to citizens.
Akwa Ibom’s inclusion among the country’s leading states in governance adds to its growing list of development achievements and reinforces ongoing efforts to build stronger institutions, improve administrative effectiveness and create an enabling environment for economic and social progress.
The latest ranking further highlights the increasing role of data-driven assessments in measuring governance performance and recognizing states making deliberate efforts to enhance public sector efficiency and accountability.
By Ndifreke Bassey