Bayelsa has been named one of the four least indebted states in Nigeria, according to recent data from the Debt Management Office (DMO) covering 2025–2026.
The other states in the lowest debt category are Ondo, Yobe and Jigawa.
At the other end of the ranking, Lagos remains the most indebted state, followed by Kaduna, Rivers, Edo and Ogun.
State officials said the rating reflected “prudent management of resources and accountability” under Governor Douye Diri’s administration.
They also pointed to 2025 half-year reports which showed Bayelsa had recorded almost 50 per cent budget implementation, the highest among Nigerian states.
READ ALSO: Bayelsa PDP Elects New Local Government Leaders
According to the DMO, full ranking places states in five bands, and after the five highest debt states, come Cross River, Bauchi, Enugu, Delta and Niger.
The upper-middle band includes Katsina, Benue, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Ekiti, Plateau,
Abia, Osun and Adamawa. Kano, Taraba, Sokoto, Kwara, Gombe, Kebbi and Zamfara are listed as mid-range.
Lower debt states include Nasarawa, Borno, Kogi, Ebonyi and Anambra.
The DMO publishes state debt figures periodically to track fiscal positions across the federation.