Nigeria is a federation made up of 36 states and capitals, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This article contains a list of all the states in the country, their capitals and other things you want to know about them.
Nigeria, popularly referred to as “the giant of Africa”, is located on the western coast of Africa. The country became independent on October 1. 1960, and adopted a republican constitution in 1963.
Nigeria has a total population of over 250 million people and an estimated 250 ethnic groups, with the major ones being the Igbos, the Yorubas, and the Hausas.
Nigerian States and Capitals
As mentioned earlier, Nigeria is made up of 36 different states and capitals divided into six geopolitical zones, namely: North Central, North East, North West, South East, South-South, and South West.
Here is everything you need to know about the states in Nigeria;
1. Abia State
Abia state is located in the South East geopolitical zone. It has Umuahia as its capital city, and its slogan is “God’s own state”. Abia state was created out of Imo state on 27 1991. The state’s largest commercial city is Aba, known for its manufacturing and commercial prowess.
‘Abia’ is an acronym for the first letter of the major group in the state at the time of its creation; Aba, Bende, Iikwuato, and Afikpo. Abia state is one of the most industrialized states in the country, a hub of manufacturing textiles, shoes, bags, clothes, plastics, and lots more. It is also an oil-producing state.
Abia state is predominantly an Igbo-speaking state and has 17 local government areas. The current governor of the state is Okezie Ikpeazu
2. Adamawa State
The state is located in the northeastern geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It is also known as the ‘Land of beauty’. The state’s capital city is Yola, which is its largest city. It was created on 27th August 1991 from part of the then Gangola State.
Adamawa is bordered to the northwest by Borno, to the west by Gombe, and to the southwest by Taraba, and the eastern border forms the national border with Cameroon. It is one of the largest states in the country, occupying about 36,917 square kilometres.
Adamawa is majorly an agricultural state. It is a hub for the production of cash crops, cotton, groundnuts, and food crops like yam, cassava, rice, guinea corn, maize and millet. The state is also known for livestock farming. Solid minerals like limestone, zinc, iron and lead can also be found in this state.
The current governor of the state is Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri
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3. Anambra State
Located in the southeastern part of the country, Anambra state is known to have the lowest poverty rate and highest literacy rate in the country. Asides from its capital city, Awka, Anambra has two other very popular cities. Nnewi, an industrial city, and Onitsha, a commercial hub.
Proudly known as the “Light of the nation”, Anambra was created on the 27th of August, 1991 and is made up of 98% Igbo ethnic group and 2% Igala group. It is the 8th most populated state in the country.
Anambra state is blessed with many natural resources like ceramics and bauxite limestone, coal, zinc, etc. It is a well-known oil-producing state.
The current governor of the state is Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo
4. Akwa Ibom State
Akwa Ibom, the land of promises, can be in the south-south region of the country. It was created on the 23rd of September 1987 from Cross River state and named after the Que Iboe river in the state’s capital, Uyo. Akwa Ibom is one of the most beautiful states in the country. It is home to 2 major seaports as well as an ultramodern sports complex.
Akwa Ibom has 31 local government areas and is home to many tribal groups, the dominating ones being Ibibio, Annang, Oron, Eket and Obolo.
The current governor of the state is governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel
5. Bauchi State
Bauchi is a state in the northeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It has its capital seat in the city of Bauchi, which was created in February 1970 when the north-eastern state broke up.
It shares boundaries with seven other states in the country; Kano and Jigawa state to the north, Taraba and Plateau to the south, Gombe and Yobe state to the east and Kaduna state to the west.
Bauchi state represents about 5.3% of the total land mass of Nigeria. It is home to the largest game reserve in the country, Yankari National Park, formerly known as Yankari games reserve.
Bauchi State is blessed with fertile land, making agriculture a popular economic activity. Mineral resources such as gypsum, lead, uranium, zinc, etc., can be found in abundance in this state.
Bauchi state has 20 local government areas, and about 55 tribal groups can be found in the state.
The current governor of the state is Bala Muhammed.
6. Bayelsa State
Bayelsa state is the second least populated state in Nigeria. It can be found in the southern part of Nigeria within the Niger Delta. Bayelsa state was created in 1996 out of Rivers state.
The seat of government is in the state capital, Yenagoa. Bayelsa state is rich in natural resources and is one of the country’s largest natural gas and crude oil deposits. The state has a total of eight local government areas, and the main language spoken is Ijaw.
The current governor of the state is Duoye Diri.
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7. Benue State
Benue state is located in the north-central part of Nigeria and is known for its agricultural productivity.
The state prides itself on the nation’s food basket because it is blessed with rich soil, which is used for producing various agricultural crops like yam, cassava, cocoyam, soybeans, sweet potato, millet, sorghum, etc. Benue accounts for 70% of soybeans production in Nigeria.
It is also blessed with mineral resources like limestone, gypsum, feldspar, gemstone, kaolinite, etc.
The state was created in 1976, comprises of 23 local government areas and has its seat of government in Makurdi.
The current governor of the state is Samuel Ortom.
8. Borno State
Borno State, dubbed the Home of peace, is located in the northeastern geopolitical zone. It was created in February 1976 and had its seat of government in Maiduguri. Agriculture is the main occupation of the people of Borno state.
9. Cross River State
Cross River State is one of the tourist hubs in Nigeria. No wonder it is nicknamed the Home of Paradise. It is located in the coastal area of the south-south geopolitical zone. It houses the popular Obudu Mountain Resort, formerly known as Obudu Cattle Ranch.
The state was created in 1967 as a South-Eastern state and was named after River Cross or the River Oyono in 1976. The state’s capital is Calabar, one of Nigeria’s cleanest and safest cities and also has a major seaport. The current governor of the state is Benedict Ayeda
10. Delta State
Tagged as the Big Heart of the Nation, Delta state is located in the south-south geopolitical zone. Delta state is a Niger Delta state and the second-largest oil-producing state in Nigeria. It has its capital at Asaba, while Warri is the commercial hub.
Delta state was created out of the former Bendel state on August 27, 1991. There are 25 Local Government Areas in the state ifeanyi Okowa
11. Ebonyi State
Ebonyi State tagged the ‘salt of the nation’, is located in the southeastern part of the country and is dominated mostly by the Igbos. It is the least populated state in Nigeria and has 13 Local Government Areas.
It is an agricultural hub, and food crops like cassava, yam, potatoes, beans, maize, etc., can be found in abundance in this state.
The current governor of the state is Dave Umahi.
12. Enugu State
Enugu State is the largest coal deposit in the country, earning its slogan, ‘the coal city state’. It is located in the southeastern part of the country. It was created and derived its name from Enu Ugwu, which means ‘top of the hill’.
The current governor of the state is lfeanyp Ugwuanyi
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13. Edo State
Edo State is located in the south-south geopolitical zone. It is the 24th largest state by landmass, and its capital city and state’s capital, Benin, is the fourth largest city in Nigeria. Its slogan is “the heartbeat of the nation”, and it was created in 1991 by the former Bendel state.
The current governor of the state is Godwin Obaseki
Edo state is currently the centre of the country’s rubber industry.
14. Ekiti State
Ekiti state prides itself as the land of honour, and it is located in the western part of the country. It was created on the 1st of October, 1996 and had its capital at Ado Ekiti.
The state boasts of numerous tourist attractions such as Ikogosi warm spring and natural resources like granite, kaolin, limestone, gold and phosphate.
The current governor of the state is Biodun Oyebanji
Ekiti state predominantly comprises the Yoruba ethnic group and has 16 LGAs.
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15. Gombe State
Proudly known as the ‘Jewel in the savanna, Gombe state is located in the northeastern zone, with agriculture being the main occupation in the state. It is a hub for traders that deal in agricultural products.
The current governor of the state is Muhammad Yahaya
16. Imo State
Imo state is located in the southeastern part of the country and is known as the Eastern Heartland. It has white clay, lead, fine sand, zinc and limestone deposits. The state is also blessed with forest resources like iroko, mahogany, bamboo, rubber and oil palm.
It has 27 local governments, with its seat of power in Owerri.
Hope Uzodinma the is the current governor of the state.
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17. Jigawa State
Jigawa state is located in the northern part of the country and has its capital city at Dutse. Its slogan is ‘the new world’, and it is ranked one of the poorest states in Nigeria.
The current governor of the state is Mohammad Abubakar.
18. Kaduna State
Kaduna state prides itself as the Centre of Learning and has its capital in Kaduna city. It is located in North central Nigeria. It is one of the most populous states in the country.
The current governor of the state is Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai.
19. Kano state
Kano is one of the top commercial states in the country, which explains its slogan, ‘Center of Commerce’. It is a very populated and industrialized state in the country, and its seat of government is in Kano city.
According to the 2006 population census, Kano is Nigeria’s second most populated state. The current governor of the state is Abdullahi Ganduje.
20. Katsina State
Just like Kaduna and Kano, Katsina state is located in the northwest geopolitical zone of the country. The state has 34 local government areas, and the main occupation of its citizen is agriculture . The current governor of the state is Aminu Bello Masari.
21. Kebbi State
The land of equity is part of the northestern states in Nigeria. It has the seat of government in Birnin-Kebbi and has 21 LGAs. The economy of the state is agriculture.
Kebbi state is home to the famous Argungu fishing festival.
The current governor of the state is Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.
22. Kogi State
Kogi State is a north-central state of Nigeria. Lokoja is the state’s capital, and this is where the confluence of the two most important rivers in Nigeria, River Niger and River Benue, is found, earning the state its slogan, “the confluence state”.
Kogi is blessed with mineral resources like limestone, tin, iron, petroleum, and coal, which is why one of the largest cement factories in Africa, The Obajana Cement Factory, owned by Dangote, is found in the state.
The current governor of the state is Yahaya Bello.
23. Kwara State
Created on the 27th of May 1967, Kwara state is situated in the north-central zone. Its capital city is Ilorin, and its slogan is “State of Harmony”.
Kwara state has 16 LGAs, and it is occupied predominantly by the Yoruba-speaking ethnic group.
The current governor of the state is AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq.
24. Lagos State
Lagos state is the second most industrialized state in the country. It is rated one of the smallest states but also the most populated state in the country, following Kano state.
Lagos state was created on May 27, 1967, with Ikeja as its capital and was the nation’s capital city from 1914 till 1991, when the administrative seat was moved to Abuja.
Although it is popularly referred to as “no man’s land, it is no secret that Lagos state is predominantly a Yoruba state.
Lagos state is among the top ten fastest-growing cities in Africa. Little wonder it is nicknamed The Center of Excellence.
The state is currently governed by Babajide Sanwo-Olu
25. Nasarawa State
Nasarawa state has just 13 LGAs and is one of the states in Nigeria bordering the Federal Capital Territory. Its capital is Lafia, and it is blessed with mineral resources like bauxite, barite, salt and lots more which earned it its slogan; Home of Solid Materials.
The current governor of the state is Abdulahi Sule.
26. Niger State
in terms of landmass, Niger state is the largest state in the country. It is located in the North Central region and has its slogan, ‘the power state’ due to the presence of hydroelectric power stations, Kainji Dam and Shiroro Dam in the state.
The current governor of the state is Abubakar Sani Bello
27. Ogun State
Ogun State, proudly known as the gateway state, is the most industrialized state in Nigeria. It is located in the Southwestern part of Nigeria and shares a border with Lagos.
The gateway state was created on February 3 1976, and its capital city is Abeokuta.
Ogun state is predominantly Yoruba, with the Yoruba language serving as the lingua franca of the state.
The current governor of the state is Dapo Abiodun.
28. Ondo State
The Sunshine State is located in the southwestern geopolitical zone and is the country’s highest cocoa producer. It is home to the famous Idanre hill and has its capital city in Akure.
The current governor of the state is Rotimi Akeredolu.
29. Osun State
Osun State, the land of virtue, is also located in the southwest. It was created on August 27, 1991, in Oyo state and had its name from the famous Osun river that flows through the state.
The current governor of the state is Ademola Adeleke.
30. Oyo State
The state of the Pace setters is located in southwestern Nigeria and is home to many firsts in the country, like the first university in the country, the first skyscraper, etc.
It was created on the 3rd of February, and Ibadan, it is the capital city, is the third most populous city in the country and the second largest city in Africa.
The current governor of the state is Seyi Makinde.
31. Plateau State
Plateau state is located in the north-central part of the country. It was created in 1976 out of the northern half of the former Benue-Plateau state.
It is the twelfth-largest state in the country and has its capital in Jos.
The current governor of the state is Simon Lalong.
32. Rivers State
Nicknamed the treasure base of the nation, Rivers state is a member of the Niger Delta states and the 3rd largest producer of oil in the country. It is home to two major refineries in the country.
The current governor of the state is Nyesom Wike.
33. Sokoto State
Sokoto is a major city located in extreme northwestern Nigeria near the confluence of the Sokoto river and rima river. As of 2005, it had an estimated population of more than 4.2 million.
The current governor of the state is Aminu Tambuwal.
Sokoto state is mostly populated by Hausas and a minority group known as Shia.
34. Taraba state
The ‘nature’s gift of the nation’ is located in northeastern Nigeria and has agriculture as its major economic activity. They are producers of cash crops like cotton, groundnut, tea and coffee, as well as food crops like maize, millet, rice, sorghum, yam and cassava.
The current governor of the state is Darius Ishaku.
35. Yobe State
Yobe state is located in northeastern Nigeria. It was created on 27 August out of Borno state. The capital city is Damaturu, and its largest city is Potiskum.
The current governor of the state is Mai Mala Buni.
36. Zamfara State
Zamfara is a state in northeastern Nigeria. It used to be a part of Sokoto state until 1996.
Zamfara has two major ethnic groups, Hausa and Fulani. The predominant religion is Islam, and the citizens are mostly farmers.
The current governor of the state is Bello Matawalle.
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Federal Capital Territory
FCT is not a state under the federal government. The FCT houses Abuja which is the nation’s capital.
Now that you are aware of Nigeria’s 36 states and capitals and some other important facts, you realize Nigeria is blessed with diverse people, cultures, traditions, and beliefs, making it unique.
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By Population
As of 2022, the 5 largest cities by population are listed as follows, according to Statistica.
Lagos with a population of well over 15 million residents
Kano with over 4.1 million residents
Ibadan with over 3 million residents
Port Harcourt with over 1.8 million people.
Benin city with about 1.7 million residents.
By Landmass
The 5 biggest cities in Nigeria by land mass are listed as follows;
Gusau- 3364 km/sq.
Ibadan- 3080 km/sq
Oyo 2427 km/sq
Ife 1791 km/sq
Abuja 1769 km/sq
Calabar was seen as the first capital of the country during the British colonial rule before it was moved to Lagos in 1906 and Abuja finally took over in 1991.
Zamfara State
