From Premium Times Nigeria · Press Release · · 1m 40s
Zamfara ranks 10th in fiscal viability index
Zamfara State scores 74.97% in new fiscal viability ranking, top 10 states in Nigeria.
In brief
Zamfara State scores 74.97% in new fiscal viability ranking, top 10 states in Nigeria. Zamfara State ranks 10th in Nigeria's Fiscal Viability Index with 74.97% score, ahead of 34 other states. Originally reported by Premium Times Nigeria.
New fiscal viability report
BudgIT released State of States 2026 report ranking Nigerian states on fiscal performance.
Zamfara ranks 10th
Zamfara State scored 74.97% on Fiscal Viability Index, placing 10th among 35 Nigerian states.
Top performers
Enugu State leads with 98.38% and Bayelsa State follows at 88.83% in fiscal viability rankings.
Debt situation
Zamfara remains Nigeria's second-least-indebted state with per capita debt of N19,464.
Northern states performance
Zamfara, Gombe and Niger are the only northern states in top 10 fiscal viability rankings.
Methodology
Report uses revised methodology with four pillars: revenue performance (40%), fiscal viability (30%), debt sustainability (15%) and critical spending (15%).
Fiscal improvement
Zamfara improved from 36th position in 2023 to 17th position in 2025 under Governor Lawal's leadership.
Key sectors
Report assesses states' spending on agriculture, health, education and water sanitation and hygiene.
Governor Lawal
Former Central Bank Governor Emir Muhammadu Sanusi praised Governor Dauda Lawal's transformational achievements in Zamfara.
Fiscal sustainability
True fiscal sustainability means states can fund public salaries, overheads and debt obligations from own revenue.
Historical context
Zamfara's fiscal performance improved from 36th in 2023 to 17th in 2025 under Governor Lawal.
State performance
Zamfara ranked 26th in 2024 and 17th in 2025, showing significant fiscal improvement under new leadership.
Fiscal health
Zamfara State remains second-least-indebted state in Nigeria with per capita debt of N19,464.
The essence
Zamfara State ranks 10th in Nigeria's Fiscal Viability Index with 74.97% score, ahead of 34 other states.
