A nationwide review of state government websites has named Adamawa, Rivers, Katsina and Imo among the poorest performers in digital governance, exposing gaps in transparency, citizen engagement, and service delivery.

The report, released on Monday, by Nigerian Panorama in collaboration with Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS) and titled ?Panorama CGPI eGovernance Report: A Review of State Government Websites (2025)?, assessed the digital platforms of 36 states using ten critical indicators, including website security, content relevance, interactivity, financial transparency, user friendly, MDAs directory, online service availability among others.

?State government websites are essential tools for citizen engagement, service delivery, and transparency. They serve as the first point of contact for both citizens and investors,? the report stated.

While a few states such as Lagos, Anambra, and Abia demonstrated strong digital governance practices, many others lagged dangerously behind.

Adamawa ranked zero in digital governance as the state?s website remains inaccessible. Rivers State is also at the bottom of the chart.

Katsina and Niger states were singled out for having non-functional or broken contact forms, outdated content, and poor user interface design, effectively cutting off citizens from government information and services.

Imo State?s website, the report noted, was riddled with broken links and filled with political propaganda rather than public service information. Taraba and Katsina also ranked low for infrequent updates and lack of maintenance.

?E-governance is very important because it is one thing that most citizens can deal with, whether they?re sick, sad, happy, or busy,? Anthony Kila, the director of CIAPS, said while addressing journalists at the launch of the report on Monday. ?The gateway to e-governance is the website, so what we have done is to check the e-governance of all the states of Nigeria, using the website as the gateway.?

Transparency still elusive

Despite increasing calls for openness in government, most poorly rated states failed to publish budgetary information or updates on policy and regulations. Kebbi, Bayelsa, and Sokoto were among those lacking current financial disclosures, while only a handful of states, Enugu, Edo, and Akwa Ibom, shared project details and fiscal data.

Only Lagos, Kwara, Ondo, and Enugu were credited with operating active feedback systems such as email support, complaint forms, or chat tools. In contrast, most others, including Katsina and Niger, either had outdated contact information or no visible means of citizen communication.

Although the majority of websites had SSL certificates for secure connections, basic privacy standards like cookie consent notifications were largely absent. States such as Ekiti and Lagos stood out for highlighting youth-targeted empowerment programmes, but poor design and technical glitches made these resources hard to access elsewhere.

?There are some states that are doing relatively well when compared to international standards, but there are also some states that are doing fantastically badly,? Kila noted.

?I would be shocked if a state that is doing badly in e-governance is then doing well in normal governance. If you don?t get the medium right, chances are you won?t get the substance right,? the professor added.

The report recommended several reforms, including mandatory content audits, unified feedback channels, improved accessibility, and digital skills training for government staff. It also urged states to view their websites as vital tools for governance, not mere publicity platforms.

?State websites are more than digital billboards, they are tools for inclusion, efficiency, and development,? the CGPI report noted. ?It?s time to reimagine digital governance as a partnership between citizens and leaders. Let?s build platforms that serve, listen, and inspire.?

According to the Commonwealth Institute director, the report is not just a critique, but a practical roadmap for reform. ?The Panorama CGPI report hopes to show the government and people what they?re not doing well and hopefully how they can do better,? he said.

?We actually show them exactly what they?re doing wrong, what they?re doing well, and how they can improve if they want to.?

The professor called on state governors and commissioners of information and communication technology to prioritise digital investments.

?They need to understand the importance of e-governance and the digital life of their citizens. They should work on it,? he stressed. (BusinessDay)

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