State Performance Index: Abia State Jumps 26 Places To 10th As Lagos Retains Top Spot

Abia State recorded the biggest improvement in the 2025 State Performance Index (pSPI), rising 26 places from 36th position in 2024 to 10th in the latest ranking released by Phillips Consulting.

The report ranked Lagos as Nigeria’s best-performing state, followed by Ogun and Kaduna, while Adamawa and Niger completed the top five.

According to Phillips Consulting, Abia’s rise was the most significant movement in the 2025 assessment, while Niger climbed from 29th position to fifth, and Adamawa moved from 26th to fourth.

Lagos retained its position at the top of the ranking amid continued strength across key governance and economic indicators, while Ogun and Kaduna maintained places among the country’s highest-performing states.

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Nasarawa (sixth), Gombe (seventh), Jigawa (eighth), Plateau (ninth) and Abia (10th) completed the top 10 list in the assessment.

In contrast, Bayelsa and Kano recorded some of the sharpest declines in the ranking.

The report showed that Bayelsa fell from sixth place in 2024 to 29th in 2025, while Kano dropped from seventh to 30th position.

Phillips Consulting said the 2025 edition introduced a revised methodology designed to place greater emphasis on measurable outcomes and objective performance indicators.

“The revised methodology places greater emphasis on measurable outcomes and transparency, rewarding states that demonstrate stronger fiscal health, governance, service delivery and economic performance,” the report said.

Phillips Consulting described the index as a tool for measuring governance effectiveness and identifying areas requiring policy intervention.

“The pSPI is not merely a ranking exercise; it is a strategic tool for diagnosing performance gaps, identifying best practices, and guiding reforms that improve citizens’ quality of life,” the report said.

‘RESPONDENTS UNAWARE OF SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRAMMES TARGETED AT RESIDENTS’

The report also pointed to persistent governance and citizen-engagement challenges across many states.

In several states assessed, large proportions of respondents said they were unaware of projects being implemented by local governments or socioeconomic programmes targeted at residents.

According to the consulting firm, 82 percent of respondents in Kogi said they were unaware of projects at the local government level, while 83 percent said they were unaware of socioeconomic programmes.

The report described the situation as a “major challenge” for grassroots governance in the state.

Similarly, in Kwara, 84 percent of respondents said they were unaware of projects at the local government level and 88 percent said they were unaware of socioeconomic programmes.

The report said the findings pointed to weak grassroots governance participation.

Phillips Consulting said the index is intended to provide policymakers with a transparent benchmark for evaluating state performance and encouraging competition among subnational governments.

“The 2025 edition introduces a stronger emphasis on measurable outcomes and objective data,” the report said.

The company added that the framework seeks to improve accountability and support evidence-based policymaking.

Alex Otti

At the bottom of the ranking, Kogi placed 35th, while Borno ranked 36th.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was excluded from the assessment because its audited financial statement was unavailable.

According to Phillips Consulting, the absence of the document made a comprehensive evaluation of the territory’s fiscal performance impossible. Eereporter.com

Court Dismisses Appeal Against Providus Bank, Unity Bank Merger

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed an appeal seeking the dissolution of the merger between Providus Bank Limited and Unity Bank Plc.

A five-member panel of the apex court, in a unanimous judgement delivered by Justice Tijani Abubakar, dismissed the appeal seeking to overturn the judgement of the Court of Appeal, for lacking in merit.

The appellants, Suleiman Abubakar and Mohammed Goni Modu, who are customers and shareholders of the banks, had appealed against the appellate court judgement. They named Providus Bank, Unity Bank, PAC Capital Limited, Vetiva Advisory Services Limited, Lighthouse Capital Limited, Planet Capital Limited, and the Corporate Affairs Commission as first to seventh respondents.

They also listed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Central Bank of Nigeria as the eighth, ninth, and 10th respondents, respectively, in the appeal marked SC/CV/132/2026.

The Supreme Court, after dismissing the case of the appellants, subsequently invoked its powers under Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to directly sanction the merger between Providus Bank Limited and Unity Bank Plc. The decision accordingly brought respite to customers and shareholders of the banks, as the judgement effectively drew the curtain on litigation surrounding the merger.

As part of efforts to comply with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recapitalisation policy, Providus and Unity Banks had approached the Federal High Court in July 2025. The two banks sought an order to convene separate meetings of their respective shareholders and directors to consider and approve a scheme of merger between the two.

Following the court’s order, Providus and Unity Banks held separate meetings and approved the scheme of merger. The meeting also led to the trial court sanctioning the scheme.

Dissatisfied, the two appellants, despite not being parties to the scheme of merger, approached the trial court seeking leave to bring an application as interested parties and for an order dissolving the merger of the two banks. After granting leave for the appellants to be joined as interested parties, the trial court then ordered that the appellants’ application would be determined first before the motion of the respondents.

Dissatisfied, the appellants (Messrs Abubakar and Modu), who are customers and shareholders of the affected banks, approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the trial court’s decision.

However, the appellate court dismissed their case on March 6 and ordered an accelerated hearing and determination of the suit before the trial court, with costs against the appellants. Not satisfied, the appellants again approached the apex court to have the lower court’s order overturned.

However, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgement, held that the appeal was unmeritorious and accordingly dismissed, with a cost of N10 million each in favour of the respondents. The judgement was delivered in Appeal No. SC/CV/132/2026, arising from Appeal No. CA/LAG/CV/137/2025 and Suit No. FHC/L/MISC/734/2025.

Subsequently, the panel invoked Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to directly sanction the merger between Providus Bank and Unity Bank, effectively bringing to a close all litigation surrounding it.

The apex court further ordered the transfer of all assets, liabilities, and undertakings, including the real properties of Unity Bank Plc, to Providus Bank Limited, in accordance with the approved scheme of merger.

Justice Abubakar, in addition, ordered that the transfer be completed within 10 days of the sanction of the scheme. As part of the merger arrangements, the apex court approved a consideration of N3.18 per share or 18 Providus Bank shares of 50 kobo each for every 17 Unity Bank shares held by shareholders.

Providus Bank, Unity Bank Merger

The court also ordered the dissolution of the board of Unity Bank Plc without winding up the institution and approved the adoption of the new name, Providus-Unity Bank Limited, for the enlarged entity.

Reacting to the apex court verdict, counsel to Unity Bank, Damian Dodo, alongside Reuben Atabo, SAN, described the ruling as a historic decision that had finally settled all disputes relating to the merger. According to Mr Dodo, the Supreme Court’s intervention had removed all legal obstacles to the consolidation.

“What the Supreme Court has done by this judgement is to bring closure to the merger between Providus Bank and Unity Bank. Some persons went to the Federal High Court and attempted to truncate the merger, and the matter progressed through the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court. Today, that chapter has been conclusively closed,” he said.
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President Tinubu Praises Navy At 70, Says Anti-Oil Theft Operations Boost Production, Revenue

President Bola Tinubu says the Nigerian Navy’s sustained operations against crude oil theft and maritime crime have boosted oil production, increased national revenue and strengthened investor confidence.

According to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, Tinubu spoke on Monday at the 2026 international fleet review held at the Eko Atlantic Waterfront in Lagos as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary. Eereporter.com

Navy At 70

Anti-Oil theft operations boost production and revenue, said President Bola Tinubu.

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