A new performance review has ranked Zamfara, Kwara, and Benue as the worst-performing states in Nigeria between 2023 and 2025.
The ranking was contained in a midterm report 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.
The report assessed states using indicators such as health, education, infrastructure, economic opportunities, transparency, and security.
GGRI said its findings were based on data from official reports, independent audits, field surveys, and citizen feedback mechanisms between May 2023 and August 2025.
“The performance of Zamfara, Kwara, and Benue falls well below the national average across all measurable indicators.
“These states have consistently demonstrated weak leadership, poor policy choices, and a lack of transparency that have compounded the hardships of their citizens,” the report stated.
Zamfara ranked bottom overall, with the organisation citing worsening insecurity driven by banditry and mass abductions.
GGRI said the state has “no clear developmental agenda” despite campaign promises at inception.
It noted that corruption and the activities of government officials and non-state actors have undermined security even with billions allocated as security votes.
“The state’s infrastructure is collapsing, workers’ welfare remains poor, and the vast revenues received from the Federation Account are not translating into meaningful development,” the report added.
On education, GGRI said over 60 percent of children in rural areas are either out of school or attend poorly equipped classrooms.
It added that health facilities are underfunded and maternal mortality rates remain among the highest in the country.
The organisation accused the state government of prioritising political patronage over institutional reforms, worsening the plight of citizens.
Kwara ranked second-worst, with the report saying poverty and stagnation persist despite “heavy rhetoric on reforms”.
It said infrastructure in Ilorin is crumbling, with bad roads, unreliable water supply, and inadequate housing.
The organisation noted that schools lack teachers and learning materials, while rural health centres are poorly staffed and ill-equipped.
It added that “Governor AbdulRazaq has mastered the art of lofty promises and public relations, but the reality is that his citizens are not feeling the impact of government on their daily lives.”
Benue ranked third-worst, with the review warning that insecurity and poverty are worsening the state’s crisis.
“Benue has witnessed a collapse in rural infrastructure, with primary schools in many local government areas reduced to ghost structures and hospitals either abandoned or non-functional,” GGRI said.
It added that the governor has shown “little willingness to confront insecurity”, leaving thousands of internally displaced persons without resettlement.
The organisation said poverty is rising, corruption is rife, and the state is “adrift without a clear development agenda”.
GGRI warned that the poor performance of the three states carries national implications for Nigeria’s human development index and democratic consolidation.
“The tragedy is not only that citizens are being denied the dividends of democracy, but also that these failures erode public trust in governance,” it said.
The organisation called for urgent interventions in education, health, and security.
It also urged stronger accountability frameworks for public expenditure and targeted security strategies.
GGRI further asked citizens to demand accountability from their leaders rather than accept excuses.
The Good Governance Rating Index is regarded as an independent evaluator of governance quality across Africa, with reports often used by donor agencies and development partners.