Business - Intelpoint

Only 17 of 37 states and the FCT recorded above-midpoint entrepreneurship scores in 2025.
Kogi State leads nationally, outperforming all others on the SoE Index.
Strong entrepreneurship performance is not limited to Lagos or major commercial centres.
Several northern and middle-belt states rank high.
Urban and resource-rich states do not automatically guarantee strong entrepreneurial outcomes.
Local governance and operating conditions appear more influential than state size or wealth.

Nigeria’s entrepreneurship index increased in 2025 for the first time since 2022.
The 2025 score (0.47) represents a reversal of a two-year downward trend.
The ecosystem remains weaker than in 2022, when the index peaked at 0.58.
The sharpest decline occurred between 2022 and 2023.
The improvement from 2024 to 2025 is incremental, not transformative.
The index suggests stabilisation rather than full recovery in the entrepreneurial environment.

Kogi entrepreneurs have the highest tax policy awareness in Nigeria (96.8%) in 2025.
Abia has the lowest awareness nationwide at just 1.4%.
Fewer than one-third of Nigerian states have awareness levels above 60%.
Major economic hubs like Lagos and Rivers have awareness below 50%.
Northern states dominate the top awareness rankings more than southern states.
Several states cluster around the 40–50% range, indicating partial reach.
States with low awareness risk lower compliance and higher friction during enforcement.
The gap between the highest and lowest states exceeds 95 percentage points, showing extreme disparity.

Power supply remains the biggest challenge affecting Nigerian businesses, affecting 82.5% of firms nationwide.
Poor transport infrastructure limits operations for over a quarter of businesses.
Internet disruptions affect more than one in five firms, highlighting connectivity gaps.
Climate and water issues are emerging risks, with some firms reporting weather damage and supply shortages.
The survey covered 1,043 firms across Nigeria and reflects responses from business owners and top managers.