ONDO STATE, pSPI REPORT 2025
The Sunshine State
Overall pSPI Rank:
28th out of 36 states & the FCT
pSPI Ranking:
(Satisfactory 2-Star Performer)
People & Culture
The Sunshine State
Ondo State, fondly known as the “Sunshine State”, is strategically located in southwestern Nigeria, linking it to key economic corridors. The state’s landmass is about 15,500 sq km, having 18 LGAs with different towns and settlements.
Its diverse population of about 6 million is predominantly Yoruba. Ondo celebrates its rich cultural identity through festivals like Ariginya and heritage sites like the Owo Museum and Ipale Iloro Waterfalls.
Agriculture remains the backbone of life, engaging most residents in cocoa farming, oil palm production, and cassava cultivation. The language mix—including Yoruba dialects and minority languages like Ijaw, Ilaje, Akpes, Okpameri, and others — further enriches the state’s culture.
Politics
The Southwest’s Political Battlefield
Ondo is one of the most politically competitive states in the Southwest, with PDP and APC constantly fighting for control. Unlike Lagos, which has remained an APC stronghold, Ondo’s electorate is more fluid, often voting based on performance rather than party loyalty.
In 2020, APC’s Rotimi Akeredolu secured re-election, but his tenure has been marked by controversy and intra-party conflicts. With his passing in 2023, Lucky Aiyedatiwa took over as governor, stepping into a politically volatile environment.
As the next elections cycle approach, Ondo remains a swing state, where the battle for the governorship will test whether APC can maintain its grip.
Economy - Agricultural Roots, Untapped Potential
Ondo State’s economy is driven by its rich natural resources and strong agricultural base, especially in cocoa, oil palm, and bitumen. As one of Nigeria’s top cocoa producers and a key site for crude oil and bitumen reserves, Ondo has strong potential in both agro-industry and extractive sectors.
With ongoing investments in agro-processing, light manufacturing, and the planned Deep-Sea Port, the state is steadily evolving into a regional hub for trade and resource-based industrial growth.
Key Economic Indicators (pSPI 2025)
| Metric | Value | National Rank |
|---|---|---|
| IGR Per Capita | ₦8,336 |  9th |
| IGR Per Km² | ₦3.2 million | 11th |
| IGR To Total Revenue | 20% | 11th |
| IGR To FAAC | 63% | 8th |
| Assets Per Capita | ₦76,446 | 13th |
| Debt Per Capita | ₦28,251 | 17th |
| Capital Expenditure Per Capita | ₦37,424 | 14th |
What this means:
Ondo State is revenue-moderate, performing above the national average in IGR generation, but falling far behind leading economic states like Lagos and Ogun. FAAC dependency is still high, indicating low financial independence. Meanwhile, public assets are modest, and the state carries manageable debt levels.
pSPI Performance - Struggling to Shine
Strengths
Moderate Revenue Performance: 9th in IGR Per Capita and 8th in IGR to FAAC Ratio.
Public Sector Staffing: 15th in Public Health Workers to Population, and 10th in Public Teachers to Population, indicating adequate staffing relative to population.
Moderate Asset Management: The state ranks 13th in Assets Per Capita, signaling fair asset management and valuation
Weaknesses
Infrastructure Gaps: 33rd in Road Quality, 32nd in School Quality, and 35th in Healthcare Quality.
Public Trust Deficit: 70% do not believe they get value for taxes paid.
Local Government Disconnect: Low public awareness of local programmes and projects.
Citizen Satisfaction - The Public Verdict
Ondo residents gave poor ratings to most public services, reflecting widespread discontent with
governance and service delivery.
| Service Area | Rank | % Satisfied |
|---|---|---|
| Quality of Roads | 33rd | 13% |
| Honesty of Public Servants | 32nd | 25% |
| Security of Lives and Property | 13th | 38% |
| Quality of Public Primary and Secondary Education | 32nd | 19% |
| Affordability of Public Primary and Secondary Education | 30th | 56% |
| Quality of Public Hospitals | 35th | 19% |
| Affordability of Public Hospitals | 34th | 31% |
| Gaining Meaningful Employment | 17th | 19% |
| Awareness of Government Policy and Programs | 32nd | 19% |
| Government Support for Local Businesses | 18th | 31% |
| Available, Effective, and Safe Public Transportation | 25th | 25% |
| Availability of Clean Water Supply | 32nd | 13% |
| Cleanliness of the Environment | 29th | 19% |
| Buying, Registering, and Owning Landed Property | 22nd | 38% |
| Availability of Legal Economic Opportunities | 31st | 25% |
| Attitude of State-Controlled Law Enforcement Agents | 21st | 31% |
Relocation Trends & Insights
Top Preferred Relocation States & Possible Reasons
Lagos State
Economic capital, better
infrastructure, youthfriendly opportunities
FCT Abuja
Government jobs, better
public services
Oyo State
Better roads,
stronger business
climate, cultural link
Ogun State
Proximity to Lagos,
better industries
Plateau State
Perceived peace and
natural beauty
Least Preferred States & Reasons
Borno State
Insecurity (Boko Haram
insurgency)
Zamfara State
Banditry and rural
underdevelopment
Ondo State itself
Poor infrastructure, limited
economic diversification,
frustration with
governance
Yobe State
Perceived insecurity
and poor infrastructure
Cross River State
Perceived economic
stagnation and lack of
opportunities
Local Government & Grassroot Governance
Ondo’s LGAs suffer from poor visibility and engagement
of residents do
not know their
local chairman
unaware of any
ongoing LGA
project
uninformed about
socioeconomic programmes
This breakdown in communication weakens public trust and
reduces community participation.
Survey Respondent Overview
Gender
Age Distribution
Employment
Top LGAs Represented
Akure South (16%), Okitipupa (21%), Akoko North-West (11%), EseOdo (11%)
Citizens’ Recommendations - What the People Want
57 survey respondents comprising both residents and indigenous people highlighted the following key demands.
- Fix Roads & Improve Basic Infrastructure: Citizens called for urgent rehabilitation of roads, improved access to water and electricity, and development of markets and public facilities.
- Create Jobs & Support Small Businesses: There were strong appeals for job creation, especially in rural areas, and support for small-scale traders, artisans, and farmers.
- Enhance Access to Education & Health Services: Respondents urged the government to make education more accessible and improve hospital equipment, staffing, and service delivery.
- Address Local Government Performance Gaps: Many residents reported limited awareness of local projects and poor responsiveness of local authorities. They requested better engagement and accountability
- Inclusive Youth & Women Empowerment: Citizens encouraged the state to prioritise youth empowerment programmes and provide special interventions for women’s livelihoods and entrepreneurship.
pSPI Recommendations - Data-Driven Path Forward
To reverse its sliding performance, pSPI data recommends these urgent steps for Ondo
- Deepen Revenue Diversification: Given the strong IGR to FAAC ratio and trade route performance, the state should diversify revenue sources by expanding into digital taxation (leveraging high internet penetration), improving market access infrastructure, and formalising informal sectors.
- Enhance Ease of Doing Business: To attract more private sector investment, immediate reforms are needed to improve business registration processes, land administration, and access to credit.
- Prioritise Capital Investments: Increase capital expenditure, especially toward critical infrastructure such as health facilities, road networks, and education facilities, to boost long-term productive capacity.
- Strengthen Asset Management: Conduct a comprehensive asset inventory and valuation exercise. Unproductive or under-utilised assets should be repurposed or privatised through transparent frameworks to unlock value.
- Improve Fiscal Sustainability: Address the high debt-to-revenue ratio by implementing stricter borrowing limits, enhancing revenue efficiency, and prioritising high-impact projects for borrowing.
Ondo State 2025
culturally vibrant and resource-rich but held back by governance gaps and underperforming infrastructure. Its future depends on how well leaders reconnect with the people and translate resources into tangible improvements in living conditions.