Abia State under Governor Alex Chioma Otti has continued to make headlines in causes that are ennobling and edifying. One of such developments is the current ranking of the State as the most prepared for health emergencies of all the 36 States in Nigeria. This is according to the data released by the SBM Health Preparedness Index (HPI) on November 6, 2025. The SBM Intelligence is acclaimed for conducting evidence-based researches within the health sector.
The report of the group is published annually to showcase progress or otherwise by States and other actors within the health care system. In its 2025 report which has just been released, Abia State was ranked number one in the country for emergency readiness. The studies conducted by SBM Intelligence focus on the level of infrastructure and budgetary commitments of the States in the health sector. The current report placed Abia State at the summit with a score of 26.85 points, the highest in the entire country.
URL: www.sbmintel.com
This is a no mean feat that deserves celebration and commendation. What it simply shows is that the good works of Governor Otti in the State are being closely monitored and acknowledged by credible international institutions whose sole agenda is to promote good governance. All well-meaning people of Abia should be proud of this notable achievement by the Otti administration which underscores the level of serious investments it has made in the health sector.
The State`s outstanding performance is anchored on robust per-capita health spending of N22, 925, a 14.8 percent budget allocation to the health sector, and an impressive Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.674, one of the best across the country. The SBM Health Preparedness Index is a nationally recognized benchmark that evaluates how Nigeria`s 36 States are positioned to respond to health emergencies and deliver sustainable healthcare services.
Abia State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonna Uche,
It is disclosed that the 2025 edition draws from authoritative data sources, including the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), World Health Organization (WHO), The Lancet, BudgIT, The Cable, Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, Redboud Universsity Faculty of Medical Sciences and Global Data Lab. The Index measures multiple indicators such as doctor-to-patient ratio, infant and child mortality, health spending per person, budgetary commitment to healthcare, and overall human development outcomes. Abia State came tops in all these indicators with 26.85 points, a national feat that deserves celebration. This national recognition would definitely energize the Otti administration to do more not only in the health sector but also in other areas of human endeavours.
2025 SBM Health Preparedness Index (HPI)
In the figures that were released, Ogun State came second with 23.52 points while Lagos came third 23.08 points. The other States in the South East also did relatively well as they fall within the middle of the pack with the exception of Ebonyi State that was ranked among the least performing States, coming just behind Katsina which is the last in the performance rating.
According to the Abia State Commissioner of Information, Prince Okey Kanu, the State`s sterling performance “underscores the success of its renewed focus on strategic healthcare investment, efficient resource management, and citizen-centred governance, reflecting the dividends of reform-driven leadership”.
Abia State Commissioner of Information, Prince Okey Kanu
He further noted that “Abia`s ascent to the top of the national health preparedness chart signals a new era of public health resilience, transparency, and progressive governance, positioning the State as a model of effective healthcare administration and emergency readiness in the federation”.
Otti truly deserves a pat on the back for this spectacular achievement. Abians are happy that excellence is being recorded not only in the areas of road construction and reconstruction, urban renewal, waste management, and pension administration but also within the social sector. We believe that this national recognition of the government`s achievements within the health sector, would spur Governor Otti to continue to do more for the State.
May Abia continue to prevail!
By Emeka Nwosu, PhD. Dr. Nwosu, a Public Policy Analyst, writes from Umuahia.
Email: cdnwosu2@gmail.com
