- Lagos, Anambra, Ekiti shine as CGPI 2025 Report shows poor digital governance in over two-thirds of Nigerian states
Joy Agwunobi
The Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS) has raised fresh concerns over the digital readiness of Nigeria’s state governments, identifying widespread inefficiencies and poor service delivery through their official websites.
According to its newly released Panorama CGPI eGovernance Report: A Review of State Government Websites (2025), most Nigerian states are underperforming in the basic benchmarks of e-governance—transparency, accessibility, and citizen engagement.
The report, a collaborative initiative between CIAPS and Panorama, a specialist governance publication, presents a critical audit of how all 36 state governments are using their digital platforms to interact with the public. The findings revealed that over two-thirds of state government websites fail to meet minimum functionality standards, with Adamawa, Imo, Rivers, Ebonyi, and a handful of others ranking as the worst performers.
The report, developed around ten internationally benchmarked indicators, measured the performance of state websites across data security, content relevance, citizen engagement, design usability, empowerment features, MDA directories, transparency in policy and budgeting, as well as the availability of online services.
The goal, according to CIAPS, is not to indict, but to challenge state governments in maximizing the potential of their online platforms for improved governance and citizen interaction.
At the official launch of the report in Lagos, Ikenna Anabor, chief information officer of CIAPS, provided a comprehensive breakdown of how state websites are faring, and in many instances, falling short across key benchmarks that define effective public digital infrastructure.
He emphasised that websites should not be platforms for showcasing gubernatorial achievements or running partisan campaigns. Instead, they should serve as accessible channels for service delivery, public participation, policy engagement, and administrative transparency.
“Websites are not meant to be mere digital notice boards for governors to showcase achievements. They should be functional, participatory platforms where citizens can access services, lodge complaints, engage with policies, and interact with their governments in real-time,”Anabor said.
In terms of data security, Anabor revealed that although many state websites now have Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certification, a global data security standard adopted over a decade ago, several still lag behind in implementing more robust cybersecurity measures. Lagos and Anambra stood out for not just having SSL but also including cookie consent mechanisms, aligning with global privacy standards.
“Only Lagos and Anambra have implemented cookie consent notifications, basic compliance tools that inform users about tracking activity,” Anabor noted. In contrast, states like Benue, Oyo had websites compromised by malware or flagged by antivirus systems for suspicious content. Oyo’s site, for example, redirected users to dubious advertising pages, while Benue’s contained links triggering antivirus warnings.
In the area of content relevance that speaks to the needs of the citizens, the CGPI report highlighted a widespread disconnect between the day-to-day needs of local citizens. States such as Adamawa, Ebonyi, Gombe, Imo, Katsina, and Rivers, failed to provide information that aligned with local priorities or interests.
According to Anabor, “If a state is predominantly agrarian, why is there little or no content on agriculture? If business is a major economic activity, why aren’t these websites supporting entrepreneurs with registration guides or incentives?.” However, he noted that Lagos, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Abia, and Ekiti delivered sector-relevant content; he noted that Ekiti, for example, maintained resources across agriculture and health, while Anambra catered to business communities.
On the issue of website timeliness and content freshness, Anabor highlighted the inconsistency in content updates across state government websites, stating, “This is an area where we expected stronger leadership from state governments. Only about 25 per cent of the websites we reviewed regularly posted updates.”
While a few states such as Anambra, Lagos, Ondo, and Akwa Ibom—demonstrated commitment to timely updates by posting multiple times a week, others lagged behind. “Some states only posted sporadically holiday greetings for New Year or new month messages. States like Adamawa, Taraba, Imo, and Katsina had outdated content, and Ebonyi was still behind by two years,” Anabor noted.
When it came to fostering citizen interaction, Anabor explained that many websites lacked basic engagement tools. In some cases, available contact forms and emails were inactive or non-functional. Adamawa, Katsina, and Niger were specifically flagged for having inactive or misleading contact information. “Some didn’t even have working contact forms, just fake phone numbers,” he revealed.
In contrast, states like Lagos, Kwara, Ondo, and Enugu were commended for their functional citizen engagement systems. These included active email addresses, contact forms, and even ticketing systems that allowed users to direct messages or complaints to specific ministries, departments, or agencies. However, Anabor stressed that most states still do not fully understand this aspect of e-governance. “We hoped to see features like public polling or surveys, but none of the websites embraced such tools.”
User-friendliness also showed clear disparities. The report evaluated website speed, menu layout, visual design, and accessibility. “Lagos stood out with a simple, navigable design. Anambra followed with a colorful interface and features for users with visual impairments,” Anabor said. However, Imo State’s site was among the hardest to use. “It’s poorly structured, with vague labels like ‘DL I One’ and ‘DL I Two,’ making navigation difficult,” he noted. “Katsina’s site, though visually appealing, was described as ‘an empty shell’ with broken links and inaccessible pages.”
In terms of providing empowerment tools and job opportunities, only a few states made efforts to serve their residents meaningfully. “Websites should not just serve as platforms to showcase the governor’s achievements,” Anabor stressed. “They should highlight actual opportunities for citizens; especially youth.” Lagos topped the chart for its job listings, including vacancies in state-run services like the ferry system. Ekiti also received praise for offering a skills registration portal. While other states occasionally posted news about trading opportunities or support schemes, such as assistance for widows, a large number of states including Adamawa, Ebonyi, Imo, Kebbi, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, and Sokoto lacked any such content.
Another key aspect of website functionality is the availability of updated and detailed directories for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) which many states fell short of. “Some websites listed MDAs without contact information. Others mentioned key officials but didn’t include details like phone numbers or emails,” Anabor said.
On policy communication, Anabor pointed out that most state websites did not provide timely updates on regulations, such as land use charges or road closures. While a few offered downloadable policy documents or announcements, many required users to dig through news sections to find relevant information—if available at all.
“We expected to see real-time updates or at least a dedicated section for ongoing policies and their implications, but this was rare,” he said.
Regarding budget and project transparency, Anabor argued that most websites were not investor-friendly. “Only a few posted detailed budget breakdowns. While many had budget documents and audit reports, they didn’t include project timelines or status updates. States that did mention projects often did so only in passing, typically in news articles celebrating governors’ achievements. Some state governments turned to social media to share project progress, but even then, detailed reports were scarce. There were no real-time dashboards or comprehensive tracking tools,” he explained.
One of the most crucial elements of a government website is the ability to provide online services. Anabor stressed that residents should be able to carry out activities such as tax payments without visiting government offices.
“Lagos led in this area with a fully integrated tax payment system through Remita. Some other states directed users to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) platform, while others only provided payment instructions without links,” he explained, adding that “A significant number of websites didn’t offer any online services at all.”
Reflecting on the research process, Anabor revealed that the team made concerted efforts to engage with state governments through the contact information provided on their websites. “We reached out via emails and phone numbers listed on several platforms, but received no response,” he said, underscoring a glaring disconnect between state institutions and their citizens.
Summarising the findings, Anabor observed that while a few state websites had adopted commendable practices such as implementing data security protocols, inclusive design features, and relevant content a vast majority still fell short in fostering meaningful citizen engagement or delivering essential digital services. “Much of the contents were outdated, and there was a widespread lack of empowerment listings, job opportunities, and functional online tools,” he added.
He recommended that states conduct regular website audits to improve transparency on expenditures, contracts, and project status. “Governments should also standardise feedback systems across all states and introduce public polling features. States like Imo, Adamawa and Katsina need urgent overhauls of their platforms.”
Anabor emphasised the need for collaboration between IT teams and MDAs to ensure the timely flow of information. “Security should be a priority, and staff across MDAs must be trained to support digital transformation.”
In closing, Anabor stressed the need for state governments to rethink the role of their digital platforms. He urged them to move beyond treating websites as static notice boards and begin to use them as dynamic instruments for governance.
In his opening remarks, Anthony Kila, director of CIAPS, set the tone for the conversation by emphasising the urgent need for accountability in Governance. He pointed out that eGovernance reform is no longer optional in a rapidly digitising world.
“We undertook this study not only to emphasise the importance of eGovernance but to critically assess how states are adopting and implementing it. A state’s website is the gateway to eGovernance. It should embody inclusivity, accelerate service delivery, and foster both transparency and accountability.”
He stressed that the CGPI report is not merely a ranking exercise but a strategic tool to challenge complacency and inspire reform. “We are in 2025, a time when digital interaction defines nearly every aspect of our lives from communication to commerce, worship to education. How a government shows up online tells you how seriously it takes its responsibility to serve its people,” he said.
According to Kila, the digital deficiencies are not a matter of scarce resources or federal bottlenecks. “E-Governance is one area where states do not need to wait on the federal government. It is something that states can pilot and they can champion across the country, because they have all the services from healthcare and education to tax administration and public communication. So to that point,states should and can do it. The failure to build competent platforms is a failure of will, not capacity,” he noted.
Kila also revealed that Panorama, CIAPS’s independent evaluation platform, will continue issuing performance reports on both public and private institutions. “Our interest is in efficiency, transparency, and progress—free from political bias,” the director added.
