By Maryam Shuaibu
Kano has emerged as the best state for raising a family in Nigeria despite recording the lowest income levels among locations surveyed in a new quality-of-life assessment by SBM Intelligence.
The report ranked Kano first on a composite quality-of-life index that measured safety, affordability, childcare access, healthcare, education, electricity supply and other factors affecting family wellbeing.
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Kano scored 3.92 out of five, ahead of Rivers (3.29), the Federal Capital Territory (3.09), Oyo (2.97), Anambra (2.85), Bauchi (2.81), Lagos (2.61) and Cross River (2.10).
The findings challenge the assumption that higher incomes automatically translate into better living conditions.
According to SBM Intelligence, families place greater value on safety, affordability, support networks and access to essential services than income alone.
Low income, high quality of life
Despite ranking first overall, Kano recorded the lowest income score among all surveyed lolocations.
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The report found that more than 31 per cent of respondents in the state earn less than N100,000 monthly, the highest proportion among the locations surveyed.
Kano scored 2.08 out of five on income, compared to Abuja’s 3.16, Cross River’s 3.04 and Lagos’ 2.43.
Yet the report argues that earnings alone do not determine whether families consider a place livable.
“Kano leads on safety, childcare, grid supply and daily affordability. Its weakness is income. Families who can afford to earn less, or who have established livelihoods there, are rewarded with a quality of life that the wealthier cities cannot match,” the report stated.
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Safety gives Kano an edge
Security emerged as Kano’s strongest advantage.
SBM Intelligence described the state as the safest location in the survey, awarding it a safety score of 3.98 — the highest score recorded across all indicators.
According to the report, 80.4 per cent of respondents said they felt somewhat or very safe after dark and rarely worried about their children’s exposure to crime.
Rivers recorded a safety score of 3.47, while Lagos scored 3.14. Cross River ranked lowest at 1.84.
The report suggests that safety may play a bigger role in family wellbeing than income levels alone.
Affordability and support networks
Kano also ranked highest for affordability, scoring 3.53 on daily living costs.
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The state outperformed Abuja (2.25), Lagos (1.71) and Cross River (1.54), where rising housing and household expenses continue to place pressure on family finances.
The survey further found that Kano families benefit from strong community support systems and easier access to chchildcare.
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Kano recorded the highest childcare access score and ranked second for practical support from relatives and friends who assist with childcare, school runs and emergencies.
The FCT recorded the highest practical support score at 3.63, followed by Kano at 3.55 and Oyo at 3.40.
According to the report, such support networks contribute significantly to family wellbeing and reduce the burden on parents.
Unexpected electricity advantage
One of the survey’s most surprising findings was Kano’s performance on electricity supply.
Only 9.5 per cent of respondents reported receiving fewer than eight hours of electricity daily, compared to 57.1 per cent in Abuja, 58.8 per cent in Rivers and 63.6 per cent in Cross River.
SBM Intelligence described Kano’s electricity advantage as “the sharpest in the survey.”
The report also found that Kano’s electricity distribution company received the highest customer satisfaction rating among all locations assessed.
Challenges remain
Despite its top ranking, SBM Intelligence cautioned that Kano still faces significant development challenges.
The report identified low earnings as a major concern and warned that the state’s quality-of-life advantage could weaken if improvements in security and service delivery are not sustained.
It also noted that insecurity affecting parts of northern Nigeria could threaten some of the gains that currently distinguish Kano from wealthier cities.
Nevertheless, the findings suggest that for many Nigerian families, quality of life depends on more than income.
Safety, affordability, childcare support and reliable public services appear to play a critical role in determining where families can thrive.
Kano appears to offer a combination of factors that many wealthier urban centres are still struggling to provide.