States of Nigeria explained

Nigeria
Category:Federation
Territory:Federal Republic of Nigeria
Current Number:36
Population Range:1,704,358 (Bayelsa State) – 9,401,288 (Lagos State)
Mean: 5,300,000
Area Range:1381sqmi (Lagos State) – 29484sqmi (Niger State)
Mean: 9907sqmi
Government:State government
Subdivision:Local Government Area (LGA)

Nigeria is a federation of 36 states. Each of the 36 states is a semi-autonomous political unit that shares powers with the federal government as enumerated under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is the capital territory of Nigeria, and it is in this territory that the capital city of Abuja is located.[1] The FCT is not a state. It is a territory of the Federal Government, administered by Ministers of Government appointed by the President who supervises by the administration of the territory. Each state is subdivided into local government areas (LGAs). There are 774 local governments in Nigeria.[2] Under the constitution, the 36 states are co-equal but not supreme because sovereignty resides with the federal government. The constitution can be amended by the National Assembly, but each amendment must be ratified by two-thirds of the 36 states of the federation.

Current states and the Federal Capital Territory

States of Nigeria
NameISO
3166-2
code
SealLocationCityGeopolitical
zone
AreaPopulation
(2019
estimate)[3]
CapitalLargest
AbiaABUmuahiaAbaSouth East6320abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit3,841,943
AdamawaADYolaNorth East36917abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit4,536,948
Akwa IbomAKUyoSouth South7081abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit4,780,581
AnambraANAwkaOnitshaSouth East4844abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit5,599,910
BauchiBABauchiNorth East45893abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit7,540,663
BayelsaBYYenagoaSouth South10773abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit2,394,725
BenueBEMakurdiNorth Central34059abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit5,787,706
BornoBOMaiduguriNorth East70898abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit5,751,590
Cross RiverCRCalabarSouth South20156abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit4,175,020
DeltaDEAsabaSouth South17698abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit5,307,543
EbonyiEBAbakalikiSouth East6400abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit3,007,155
EdoEDBenin CitySouth South19559abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit4,461,137
EkitiEKAdo EkitiSouth West6353abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit3,350,401
EnuguENEnuguSouth East13161abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit4,396,098
FCAbujaNorth Central7315abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit1,406,239
GombeGOGombeNorth East18768abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit3,623,462
ImoIMOwerriSouth East5530abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit5,167,722
JigawaJIDutseNorth West23154abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit6,779,080
KadunaKDKadunaNorth West46053abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit8,324,285
KanoKNKanoNorth West20131abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit14,253,549
KatsinaKTKatsinaNorth West24192abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit9,300,382
KebbiKEBirnin KebbiNorth West36800abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit5,001,610
KogiKOLokojaNorth Central29833abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit4,153,734
KwaraKWIlorinNorth Central36825abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit3,259,613
LagosLAIkejaLagosSouth West3577abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit12,772,884
NasarawaNALafiaNorth Central26256abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit2,632,239
NigerNIMinnaNorth Central76363abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit6,220,617
OgunOGAbeokutaSouth West16981abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit5,945,275
OndoONAkureSouth West15500abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit4,969,707
OsunOSOsogboSouth West9251abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit4,237,396
OyoOYIbadanSouth West28454abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit7,512,855
PlateauPLJosNorth Central30913abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit4,400,974
RiversRIPort HarcourtSouth South11077abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit7,034,973
SokotoSOSokotoNorth West25973abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit5,863,187
TarabaTAJalingoNorth East54473abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit3,331,885
YobeYODamaturuPotiskumNorth East45502abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit3,398,177
ZamfaraZAGusauNorth West39762abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit5,317,793

Evolution of Nigerian administrative divisions

Date Events Map
1960–1963At the time of independence in 1960, Nigeria was a federal state of three regions: Northern, Western, and Eastern. Additionally, provinces, which were a legacy of colonial and protectorate times, remained extant until they were abolished in 1976.
1963–1967In 1963, a new region, the Mid-Western Region, was created from the Western Region.
1967–1976In 1967, the regions were replaced by 12 states by military decree. From 1967 to 1970 the Eastern Region attempted to secede, as a nation called Biafra during the Nigerian civil war. The Mid-Western Region was renamed to the State of Bendel during this period.
1976–1987In 1976, seven new states were created, making 19 altogether.[4]
1987–1991During this period, there were 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
1991–1996During this period, there were 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The Federal Capital Territory was established in 1991. In 1987 two new states were established, followed by another nine in 1991, bringing the total to 30. The latest change, in 1996, resulted in the present number of 36 states.

Government

States of Nigeria have the right to organize and structure their individual governments in any way within the parameters set by the Constitution of Nigeria.

Legislature

At the state level, the legislature is unicameral, with the number of its members equal to three times the number of legislators it has in the Federal House of Representatives. It has the power to legislate on matters on the concurrent list.

Executive

At the state level, the head of the executive is the governor, who has the power to appoint people to the state executive council, subject to the advice and consent of the state house of assembly (legislature). The head of a ministry at the state level is the commissioner, who is assisted by a permanent secretary, who is also a senior civil servant of the state.

Judiciary

The Judiciary is one of the co-equal arms of the state government concerned with the interpretation of the laws of the state government. The judiciary is headed by the chief justice of the state appointed by the governor subject to the approval of the state house of assembly.[5]

Chronology

RegionsStates
1960 1963 1967 1976 1987 1991 1996
EasternSouth-EasternCross RiverAkwa Ibom
Cross River
East CentralImoImo
Abia
AnambraEnuguEbonyi
Enugu
Anambra
RiversBayelsa
Rivers
WesternMid-WesternBendelDelta
Edo
WesternLagos
WesternOgun
OndoEkiti
Ondo
OyoOsun
Oyo
NorthernBenue-PlateauPlateauNasarawa
Plateau
BenueBenue
Kogi
Kwara
Kwara
KanoJigawa
Kano
North CentralKadunaKaduna
Katsina
North WesternNiger
SokotoKebbi
SokotoSokoto
Zamfara
North EasternBauchiBauchi
Gombe
BornoBorno
Yobe
GongolaAdamawa
Taraba

See also

Sources

External links

States And Capital In Nigeria, Their Slogans & Current Governors A comprehensive list of all states in Nigeria and their current governors.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Location & Geography Britannica . 2023-06-07 . www.britannica.com . en.
  2. http://www.usaid.gov/ng/admin_divisions.htm "USAID Nigeria mission: Nigeria administrative divisions"
  3. https://nigerianstat.gov.ng/download/1241121 Demographic Statistics Bulletin 2020
  4. Kraxberger, Brennan (2005) "Strangers, Indigenes and Settlers: Contested Geographies of Citizenship in Nigeria" Space and Polity 9(1): pp. 9–27, pages 10, 11, & 15
  5. Book: Shetreet. Shimon. Judicial Independence: The Contemporary Debate. Deschênes. Jules. 1985-01-01. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. 978-90-247-3182-4. en.