ADAMAWA STATE, pSPI REPORT 2025
Home of Peace
Overall PSPI Rank
5th out of 36 states & the FCT
pSPI Ranking:
(Satisfactory 4-Star Performer)
People & Culture
Diverse and Strong Traditions
Adamawa State, known as The Land of Beauty, was created on August 27, 1991, from the former Gongola State, with Yola as its capital. The state is rich in culture, with vibrant traditional festivals and ceremonies upheld by revered rulers such as the Lamidos and Emirs. Its deep-rooted craft traditions, including pottery, wood carving, and textiles, showcase the artistic skills passed down through generations.
Home to over a dozen ethnic groups, including the Bwatiye, Fulani, Kilba, Margi, Mumuye, and Kamwe, Adamawa has an estimated population of about 5 million people, with a landmass of 36,917 sq. km. With 21 LGAs, the state’s strong cultural identity and traditional leadership remain central to its governance and social structure, reinforcing a sense of unity and continuity among its diverse communities.
Politics
A History of Political Milestones and Competitive Elections
Adamawa’s politics is a high-stakes contest where history is made, and power is fiercely contested. The state is known for producing Atiku Abubakar, a six-time presidential contender, and for delivering Nigeria’s most controversial gubernatorial election in 2023. That election saw Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru’s historic attempt to become Nigeria’s first elected female governor, an ambition derailed when INEC annulled an illegal declaration of her victory before officially confirming PDP’s Ahmadu Fintiri as the rightful winner. The election was a spectacle of intrigue, power tussles, and judicial intervention, highlighting Adamawa’s electoral volatility. While PDP retained control, the narrow margins and bitter contest showed that APC is not far behind.
Despite its political intensity, Adamawa remains a policy-focused state, where voters reward performance and punish incompetence. This pragmatism ensures that no party can take the electorate for granted, making the state a hotly contested battleground every election cycle.
Adamawa State’s economy is rooted in agriculture, livestock, and cross-border trade. The state is a leading producer of grains, cotton, groundnuts, and livestock, supported by its vast arable land and favourable climate. Strategically located along the border with Cameroon, Adamawa benefits from international trade routes, with markets in towns like Mubi serving as key commercial centres for goods and livestock. The state also has untapped potential in solid minerals such as limestone, kaolin, and gypsum, offering opportunities for future industrial development.
Key Economic Indicators (pSPI 2025)
| Metric | Value | National Rank |
|---|---|---|
| IGR Per Capita | ₦3,185 |  23rd |
| IGR Per km² | ₦462,285 | 31th |
| IGR Per Mineral Resources | ₦1.4 billion | 35th |
| IGR Per Trade Route | ₦4.6 billion | 22nd |
| IGR to Total Revenue | 11% | 29th |
What this means:
Adamawa State has made strides in creating a business-friendly environment, ranking 11th in Ease of Doing Business. However, despite the positive indicator, Adamawa struggles with low Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) per capita, indicating a heavy dependence on federal allocations. Nonetheless, the state’s agriculture sector remains a vital pillar of its economy, offering significant potential for sustainable growth and economic diversification.
Economy - Agriculture-Based with Growing Infrastructure
pSPI Performance - A Top 5 State Despite Financial Constraints
Strengths
1st in Public Teachers Per Population: Strong education system.
3rd in Public Transport Availability Well-connected transport network.
5th in Government Policy Awareness: Citizens are informed.
Weaknesses
29th in Capital Expenditure Per Capita: Public spending needs improvement.
30th in Debt Per Capita: Debt burden is rising.
31st in IGR Per Km²: Revenue generation is weak.
What Residents Think About Key Services
Citizen Satisfaction -The Public Verdict
| Service Area | Rank | % Satisfied |
|---|---|---|
| Quality of Roads | 12th | 51% |
| Honesty of Public Servants | 6th | 41% |
| Security of Lives and Property | 7th | 64% |
| Quality of Public Primary and Secondary Education | 9th | 43% |
| Affordability of Public Primary and Secondary Education | 6th | 67% |
| Quality of Public Hospitals | 3rd | 49% |
| Affordability of Public Hospitals | 5th | 51% |
| Gaining Meaningful Employment | 8th | 23% |
| Awareness of Government Policy and Programmes | 5th | 53% |
| Government Support for Local Businesses | 4th | 43% |
| Available, Effective, and Safe Public Transportation | 3rd | 63% |
| Availability of Clean Water Supply | 8th | 43% |
| Cleanliness of the Environment | 7th | 54% |
| Buying, Registering, and Owning Landed Property | 16th | 47% |
| Availability of Legal Economic Opportunities | 7th | 41% |
| Attitude of State-Controlled Law Enforcement Agents | 4th | 46% |
Relocation Trends & Insights
Top Preferred Relocation States & Possible Reasons
FCT Abuja
Better infrastructure & governance
Kaduna State
More job opportunities
Lagos state
Economic hub
Gombe State
Peace and political stability
Plateau State
Similar culture and growing economy
Least Preferred States & Reasons
Zamfara State
Insecurity & banditry
Borno State
Boko Haram insurgency
FCT Abuja
High cost of living
Lagos State
Culture difference and overpopulation
Adamawa State
Limited opportunities and slow economic growth
Local Government & Grassroot Governance
Key survey insights from the PSPI survey indicate
do not know their LGA chairman
unaware of projects at the LGA level
unaware of socioeconomic programmes
The local government system needs better transparency and citizen engagement.
Survey Respondent Overview
Gender
Age Distribution
Employment
Top LGAs Represented
Yola North (19%), Michika (10%), Yola South (10%) Hong (8%), Demsa (6%).
Citizens’ Recommendations - What the People Want
459 survey respondents, comprising both residents and Indigenous people, highlighted the following key demands
- Youth Employment and Skills Development: Residents emphasised the need for job creation, especially for youths. Key suggestions included vocational and digital skills training, access to start-up capital, and expansion of apprenticeship programmes.
- Invest in Health and Education Quality: While infrastructure exists, citizens stressed the need for more qualified personnel, timely material provision, and improved welfare for teachers and health workers.
- Support Local Enterprises and Traders: Citizens requested increased access to business grants, microcredit schemes, and reduced regulatory burdens.
- Strengthen Public Engagement and Communication: Though ranked high in policy publicity, residents still requested more inclusive and grassroots-driven communication, particularly using radio, town hall meetings, and community liaisons.
- Ensure Equitable and Fair Law Enforcement: Citizens expressed concern over law enforcement practices and called for greater fairness, human rights adherence, and transparent conflict resolution. Calls were also made for infrastructure upgrades in police stations and stronger community safety partnerships.
pSPI Recommendations - What Adamawa State Needs to do
Based on the pSPI data and citizen feedback, Adamawa urgently needs to:
- Scale Up Job Creation and Employment Access: Despite ranking good in employment, a large portion of residents express dissatisfaction with job availability and quality. The state should prioritise expanding economic opportunities, particularly in ICT, agribusiness, and trade. Facilitating private-sector partnerships and promoting MSMEs can enhance workforce absorption.
- Leverage Strength in Public Services Delivery: Adamawa ranks among the top 5 in public transportation, healthcare affordability, and policy communication. However, satisfaction with the quality of healthcare remains moderate. There is a need to improve healthcare staffing, enhance service delivery, and invest in community-based health programmes, especially in underserved rural areas.
- Modernise Land and Property Systems: The state’s low ranking in property registration reflects a need to simplify and digitalise land administration. Introducing online platforms, reducing documentation bottlenecks, and promoting awareness can boost property security and investor confidence.
- Improve Water Access and Environmental Sanitation: While Adamawa ranks 8th in water supply and 7th in cleanliness, dissatisfaction remains high in several communities. The government should expand access to potable water through boreholes and mini-waterworks, and enforce waste management policies, especially in urban centres like Yola and Mubi.
- Promote Transparency and Responsive Governance: With a 6th place ranking in perceptions of public service integrity, Adamawa is well-positioned to lead on good governance. Institutionalising citizen feedback mechanisms, publishing performance dashboards, and promoting anti-corruption initiatives can further improve public trust.
Adamawa State 2025
a strong performer, but must enhance job creation, water supply, and economic sustainability.