Delta State has been ranked as the second-best governed state in Nigeria in the 2025 Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS) Governance Performance Index, placing Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration among the top-performing state governments in the country.

The latest ranking scored Delta State at 70 per cent, placing it second only to Kaduna State, which topped the index with 73 per cent.

The CIAPS Governance Performance Index evaluated governors across Nigeria’s 36 states, assessing governance outcomes, public administration effectiveness, infrastructure development and service delivery.

According to the report, Kaduna State under Governor Uba Sani emerged first with a score of 73 per cent, while Delta State, led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, followed closely in second place with 70 per cent.

Anambra State, governed by Governor Charles Soludo, ranked third with 65.5 per cent, while Niger State under Governor Mohammed Umar Bago placed fourth with 65.1 per cent.

Ekiti State, led by Governor Biodun Oyebanji, secured fifth position with 64.5 per cent. Akwa Ibom State under Governor Umo Eno and Lagos State under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu each recorded 64 per cent, placing sixth and seventh respectively.

Oyo State, governed by Governor Seyi Makinde, ranked eighth with 61 per cent, followed by Enugu State under Governor Peter Mbah with 56.5 per cent. Borno State, led by Governor Babagana Zulum, completed the top ten with 54 per cent.

The ranking places Delta State ahead of 34 other states, including Anambra, Niger, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Oyo, Enugu and Borno, which make up the remainder of the top ten.

In the middle category, Kwara, Abia, Ondo, Nasarawa, Osun, Ogun, Kano, Kogi, Edo and Jigawa States occupied positions 11 to 20 on the index.

The report identified Taraba State as the lowest-performing state, scoring 20 per cent. Other states listed among the bottom performers were Yobe, Benue, Rivers, Plateau and Kebbi.

The Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies stated that the Governance Performance Index is designed to measure the effectiveness of state governments while promoting accountability, transparency and sustainable development across Nigeria.

The report noted that Delta State’s strong performance reflects growing recognition of the Oborevwori administration’s governance initiatives, including investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education and public service delivery under the administration’s MORE Agenda.

Observers say the ranking is expected to strengthen public confidence in the state government and reinforce Delta’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading states in governance performance and service delivery.