Kano State has been ranked as Nigeria's most livable state for families, while Cross River State placed last, according to a new report by SBM Intelligence. The report, published on Tuesday, assessed quality of life across Abuja (FCT), Anambra, Bauchi, Cross River, Kano, Lagos, Oyo, and Rivers states between April and May 2026, involving 442 respondents.
SBM Intelligence also conducted a separate Power Survey with 191 respondents across the same eight states and the FCT in January 2026 to provide complementary data. The report utilized a five-point composite scoring system to evaluate key indicators.
“The data in this report is only up to date as of Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Some of it is subject to change during the natural course of events,” the report stated. “In each of the eight states, we deliberately recruited respondents to achieve an even split across high-brow, middle-class, and low-income residential areas.”
Key Findings on Livability
The survey assessed quality of life based on safety, affordability, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Kano topped the rankings due to strong scores in safety, childcare access, and affordability, despite relatively lower income levels among residents. The report noted that families in the state enjoy a relatively stable and affordable lifestyle within modest means.
Rivers State followed closely, driven by strong healthcare performance and family stability. Abuja ranked fourth, recording high income levels but weakened by high living costs and poor electricity supply. Cross River ranked last across most indicators, including safety, education, healthcare, and affordability, with the report describing its performance as a collapse across key metrics.
Income and Affordability
Abuja recorded the highest income levels among respondents, while Kano ranked lowest, with a significant proportion earning below N100,000 monthly. However, the report noted that high earnings in Abuja and Lagos were offset by rising costs of housing, transportation, and utilities, making affordability a major challenge. Kano also emerged as the most affordable state for daily living, while Lagos recorded the lowest scores in both housing and overall living costs.
