Akwa Ibom State has once again been named Nigeria’s cleanest state, securing the title for an unprecedented eighth consecutive year.
This is according to the State of the Nigerian Environment (STONE) 2025 report released on Wednesday.
The coastal state achieved an accumulative cleanliness score of 79 per cent, earning it the “Unbroken Green Crystal Award Trophy” in the annual national assessment, which combines satellite surveillance and physical verification across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Presenting the findings, the National Coordinator of Clean-Up Nigeria, Ene Owoh, highlighted both standout performers and a worrying national decline in sanitation and public health. While Akwa Ibom led decisively, Ebonyi and Enugu followed in second and third places with 65 per cent and 56 per cent respectively.
The report, produced by the 15-member National Technical Study Group (NTSG), also identified zonal champions: Lagos (South-West, 48%), Bauchi (North-East, 50%), Plateau (North-Central, 52%), and Kaduna (North-West, 35%).
However, the data revealed a stark contradiction: even as some states make strides, the overall environmental health of the nation is deteriorating. The study found that an alarming 187.2 million Nigerians, more than three-quarters of the population, are living in unclean environments.
“The hygiene and sanitation practice of the people dropped to 32 per cent in 2025, and the life expectancy of ordinary Nigerians has fallen from 50 to 47 years,” Owoh disclosed. He linked the decline to poor waste management, insufficient funding, and rising sanitation-related diseases, which increased to 43 per cent this year.
Open defecation remains a grave concern, with Nigeria retaining its position as the world’s second-largest offender, despite a slight improvement from 24 to 19 per cent.
Professor Solomon Balogun, who led the NTSG, explained that the assessment used five key indicators: street cleanliness, vegetation and drainage control, waste management services, public opinion polls, and observable hygiene practices.
Owoh called for urgent intervention from all tiers of government, emphasising the need for increased investment in waste management equipment, construction of public toilets, and the integration of environmental clubs in schools. He praised the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her Green Initiative and urged the administration to adopt a comprehensive national “green agenda.”
The consistent performance of Akwa Ibom offers a case study in sustained political will and public participation. Yet, the broader STONE 2025 findings serve as a sobering reminder that without nationwide commitment, progress in pockets will be overshadowed by a growing public health crisis.
Clean-Up Nigeria has expressed its readiness to partner with government and private sectors to improve the country’s cleanliness ratings, a task that grows more urgent with each passing year.
