…Beats Lagos, Abia, Anambra, Kwara; emerges likeliest to survive without FAAC Allocations

Enugu State has emerged as Nigeria’s most fiscally viable subnational government, according to BudgIT’s 2025 State of States ranking.

The report shows that Enugu State is the most probable state to finance its operating expenses exclusively from internally generated revenue (IGR) and independent of allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

However, whereas Enugu, Lagos, Abia, Anambra, and Kwara are the five top states likeliest to survive independent of FAAC receipts, Yobe, Benue, Jigawa, Kogi, and Imo are ranked as the least viable states presently, the report also shows.

The findings are based on Index A, which measures states’ ability to meet recurrent expenditure obligations using only IGR. The research methodology for Index A was the ratio of operating expenses to the state’s IGR. According to BudgIT, states that rank higher on this index exhibit greater financial autonomy and long-term viability.

“States that perform strongly on Index A have comparatively limited dependence on FAAC allocations and thus possess greater viability if they were to theoretically exist as independent entities,” the report stated.

The rankings show that Enugu State scored 0.68, implying that 68 percent of the state’s IGR would have catered to its operating expenses. The scores of the remaining four of the top five states are Lagos State (0.83), Abia State (1.56), Anambra (1.66), and Kwara (1.73).

In 2024, Rivers, Lagos, Ogun, Anambra, and Cross River made the top five rankings, thus the 2025 report represents for Enugu State a quantum leap in improved revenue collection and expenditure management and a major score for the Governor Peter Mbah-led administration.

Although Mbah met the state’s IGR at N30bn in May 2023, he ramped it up to N37bn by the close of the year and scaled it up to N180.05bn in 2024 by introducing technology, including e-payment, to plug leakages and sharp practices in revenue, as well as by widening the tax net to reduce tax and revenue evasion.

Meanwhile, whereas Enugu and Lagos lead in IGR ranking, fewer states meet the 50% threshold, as BudgIT’s 2025 State of States report shows that the number of states generating enough revenue to cover their operating expenses has reduced compared to 2024.

In 2024, Rivers (121.26 percent) and Lagos (118.39 percent) were the only two subnationals that generated more than enough IGR to cover their recurrent expenditure. Rivers is visibly missing in the 2025 analysis.

Thus, in 2025, this coveted group now includes Lagos (120.87 percent) and Enugu (146.68 percent), with Enugu taking the number one spot.

According to BudgIT, 28 states still depend significantly on federal transfers and other external inflows to fund their operations.

On Index A1, which measures IGR growth, Enugu again leads the ranking, followed by Bayelsa, Abia, Osun, and Kano. These states recorded the strongest momentum in boosting internally generated revenues during the 2024 fiscal year.

At the bottom, Kebbi and Yobe recorded negative IGR growth, while Ebonyi, Bauchi, and Benue also posted weak performances. This represents a notable improvement from 2023, when seven states recorded negative growth.

“While it may be too early to celebrate, as the uptick could partly reflect increased inflows from federation transfers, it is a much better performance than the previous year,” BudgIT noted.

Acivic tech accountability group, MonITNG, has raised the alarm over the worsening wave of kidnappings along Edo highways, calling on Governor Monday Okpebholo and security agencies to urgently intervene.

The organisation made the call in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), titled “KIDNAPPING ALERT IN EDO STATE!”

MonITNG expressed deep concern over what it described as “the growing wave of insecurity in Edo State, as families are thrown into pain and fear.”

According to the post, “Two individuals, Mr. John Odion from Ogute-Emai, Owan East LGA, and Miss Ayeni Joy, are among the victims of the kidnapping incident that occurred on Saturday, October 25, 2025, around the NIFOR area near Aso-Rock Police Checkpoint, along the Benin–Sobe–Akure Road.”

The platform disclosed that about ten passengers travelling from Sabo-Gidda Ora in Owan West Local Government Area to Benin City were abducted by gunmen, while “the driver and two breastfeeding mothers were released.”

Providing further details, MonITNG stated that “Mr. Odion, who could not find a vehicle from Afuze to Benin, took a bike to Sabo and joined the ill-fated journey where he was kidnapped alongside others.”

It added that “the kidnappers initially demanded ₦20 million ransom, but negotiations are ongoing and they are now asking for ₦10 million for his release.”

The group also reported that “Miss Ayeni Joy was kidnapped around the same location while returning from Afuze,” noting that the abductors had demanded “₦20 million ransom for her freedom.”

The civic tech group said these incidents “have once again exposed the frightening state of insecurity on Edo highways, where innocent citizens live in fear of abduction.”

MonITNG appealed to the Edo State government, the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and local vigilante groups to “act swiftly and decisively to secure the release of these victims and restore safety along the Benin–Sobe–Akure corridor.”

It warned that the situation demanded “urgent intervention and visible security presence to prevent further abductions.”

Ending its post with a passionate appeal, the group declared: “This is a call for justice, action, and humanity. Edo State must not become a haven for kidnappers. The lives of our brothers and sisters matter. The government and security agencies must rise to their duty, protect lives, rescue victims, and restore peace.”

The post was accompanied by hashtags and mentions directed at state and national security authorities, including #EdoInsecurity, #SecureEdo, #EndKidnapping, @PoliceNG, @EdoPoliceNG, @HQNigerianArmy, and others.

This development is coming just days after Wahab Aisha, who was kidnapped two weeks ago at Igbira Camp in Auchi, Edo State, regained her freedom.

Aisha’s release was confirmed on Saturday by an activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, who expressed both relief and frustration over what he described as the government’s failure to collaborate in the rescue mission.

“Thankfully, she regained her freedom last night. Sadly, we couldn’t move in to capture her abductors because the State security agencies and the Edo State government have repeatedly failed to respond to our calls for collaboration.”

According to him, Aisha was kidnapped at Igbira Camp in Auchi and released in Okpella, Edo State — two distant communities in Etsako West Local Government Area.

He revealed that the victim was forced to trek a long distance with her abductors before her eventual release.

🚨KIDNAPPING ALERT IN EDO STATE!

Dear Governor @m_akpakomiza

We are deeply troubled by the growing wave of insecurity in Edo State, as families are thrown into pain and fear. Two individuals, Mr. John Odion from Ogute-Emai, Owan East LGA, and Miss Ayeni Joy, are among the… pic.twitter.com/fO2VMombga

— MonITNG (@monitng) October 28, 2025

The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the successful repelling of an attempted armed attack on Ezinifite Community in Nnewi South Local Government Area in the early hours of Monday, October 27, 2025.

According to a statement issued by Police Public Relations Officer SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the swift intervention of a combined security team comprising Police operatives and members of the Agunechamba Vigilante group thwarted the assault. The joint team engaged the attackers in a gun battle, resulting in the death of one suspect. The remaining assailants reportedly fled into nearby bushes with suspected gunshot wounds.

Security operatives recovered a pump-action firearm and the body of the neutralized suspect at the scene. Intelligence and offensive operations are currently underway to locate and apprehend the fleeing individuals.

Commissioner of Police CP Ikioye Orutugu commended the bravery and vigilance of the local security forces. He reassured residents of the Command’s unwavering commitment to community safety, particularly as the November 8 governorship election approaches.