A new national assessment of infrastructure development has revealed the sharp contrasts in Nigeria’s growth story, with Lagos State emerging as the country’s most developed region, while Zamfara ranks lowest. The report, released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), evaluated all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory based on key sectors such as transport, energy, housing, water supply, and digital connectivity.

According to the 2025 Infrastructure Development Index, Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, maintained its dominance through continuous urban renewal projects, the expansion of the Blue and Red Rail Lines, and major road upgrades linking the city’s mainland to its growing suburbs.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) came second, boosted by smart city initiatives, new housing estates, and the completion of key road networks that ease congestion in Abuja’s metropolitan area. Ogun, Rivers, and Anambra States followed in third, fourth, and fifth places respectively, each benefiting from a mix of industrial expansion, port modernization, and technology-driven infrastructure.

In the middle tier were Oyo, Kano, Enugu, and Delta States, showing steady progress in road construction and electricity access. However, the report also highlighted persistent disparities, with Zamfara, Yobe, and Taraba States lagging behind due to security challenges, poor maintenance culture, and limited capital investments.

Development experts have described the ranking as a “wake-up call” for state governments to prioritize sustainable infrastructure.

“Infrastructure determines a state’s capacity for economic growth,” said Dr. Amina Lawal, a policy analyst at the African Development Centre. “States that fail to invest in connectivity and public utilities risk being left behind in Nigeria’s modernization drive.”

The report further recommended increased public-private partnerships (PPPs) and federal support for rural development projects to close the infrastructure gap. With major projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri Rail Line underway, analysts say Nigeria’s infrastructure future could be brighter but only if all regions share in the progress.