Akwa Ibom Emerges Cleanest State In 2025

Akwa Ibom State has emerged as the cleanest state in Nigeria for 2025, with a accumulative score of 79 per cent.

This is according to Clean-up Nigeria report for the year 2025 released in Abuja, Enugu and Ebonyi States followed closely, ranking second and third place with 65% and 56% scores, respectively.

The report signed by the National Coordinator of Clean-Up Nigeria and Secretary of the National Technical Study Group (NTSG), Prince Ene Baba Owoh Jr , was made public during the public presentation of the State of the Nigerian Environment Report (STONE 2025 UNBROKEN) and the Cleanliness Performance Index Ratings of all states in Nigeria, held in Abuja.

The 15-member NTSG, led by Professor Solomon Balogun, conducted the yearly study from November 2024 to November 2025.

The study combined physical verification of all states and towns in Nigeria with a score point of 20%, and satellite imagery system that collects spectral data scoring 80% monthly.

It also used five variables comprising street/road cleanliness, vegetation and drainage control, waste management services, public opinion poll (POP), and knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of hygiene and sanitation measures by the people.

The report notes that in 2025, there was an 8% performance in the procurement of waste management equipment by governments at all levels.

However, the report said the health of sanitation workers dropped from 31% in 2024 to 28% in 2025.

According to Clean-Up Nigeria, incidence of sanitation-related diseases increased to 43% in 2025, against 29% recorded in 2024.

It further said the hygiene and sanitation practice of the people dropped to 32% in 2025, against 36% recorded in 2024.

“Open defecation has reduced from 24% in 2024 to 19% in 2025, but Nigeria remains the second country with the highest open defecation rating globally,” the report said.

The nine clean states according to the report include Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Plateau, Cross River, Anambra, Lagos and FCT.

Notably, in 2025, out of Nigeria’s estimated 240 million population, the Clean-Up Nigeria report disclosed that 187.2 million people live in unclean environments, based on satellite imagery data.

The STONE report also stated that the life expectancy of ordinary Nigerians dropped from 50 years in 2024 to 47 years in 2025.

Prince Owoh therefore called on governments at all levels to increase funding for waste management services and urged citizens to prioritise hygiene and sanitation practices.

He also advocated for increased construction of public toilets to reduce open defecation and support the establishment of health and environment clubs in schools nationwide to promote environmental awareness.
He expressed Clean-Up Nigeria’s willingness to partner with government and private sectors to improve cleanliness ratings nationwide.

He commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her green initiative project and urged the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to adopt a green environmental agenda, focusing on city and nature living, energy research, green economy, and resources management.