There are many traditional states in Nigeria.[1] A partial list follows.Although the traditional rulers[2] no longer officially have political power, they still have considerable status in Nigeria and the power of patronage.[3] Except where otherwise noted, names of traditional rulers are based on the World Statesmen.org list.[4]
| State | Region | Ethnic Group | Capital | Present ruler | Accession date | Title | Notes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abuja | Now the Suleja Emirate | |||||||||||||
| Abureni Kingdom | Southsouth | Ogbia | Iduma | Collins Ebi Daniel | 2008 | Olila-Ebhugh | ||||||||
| North | Fulani | 2010 | Lamido | |||||||||||
| Adara Chiefdom | Middle Belt | 2007 | Agom Adara | |||||||||||
| Southwest | Yoruba | Olusola Idris Osolo Otenibotemole II | 2024 | Formerly Oba of Ado | ||||||||||
| North | Nupe | Yussuf Nuhu | 2014 | Etsu | ||||||||||
| South | Ika | Benjamin Ikechukwu Kiagborekuzi I | 1979 | Dein | ||||||||||
| Southwest | Yoruba | 2005 | Part of the confederation of Egbaland | |||||||||||
| Southwest | Yoruba | Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi | 2015 | Deji | ||||||||||
| Southeast | Ibibio | 2008 | Edidem | |||||||||||
| Southeast | Igbo | Uga | J.C Oragwa | 1994 | Ikenga | Regent | ||||||||
| 2016 | Agwatyap or Agwam Atyap | |||||||||||||
| Gunu/Yoruba | De Wheno-Aholu-Menu-Toyi 1 | 1977 | Oba Akran of Badagry | |||||||||||
| North | Bade | 2005 | Mai Bade | |||||||||||
| Bajju Chiefdom | Middle Belt | 1995 | Agwam Bajju | |||||||||||
| Bashar State | North | Basharawa | Bashar | Adamu Idris | 1963 | Sarki | ||||||||
| North | Gera/Fulani | Rilwanu Adamu Jumba | 2010 | Emir | ||||||||||
| South | Edo | 2016 | ||||||||||||
| North | Hausa | 2019 | Emir | |||||||||||
| North | Nupe | 2003 | Etsu | |||||||||||
| North | Bura | Mustapha Umar Mustapha II | 2020 | Emir | ||||||||||
| Birnin Gwari | North | Gwari/Hausa | Birnin Gwari | Zubairu Jibrin Mai Gwari II | 1993 | Emir | ||||||||
| South | Ijaw | Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III | 1996 | Amanyanabo | Also called Okolo-Ama | |||||||||
| Middle Belt | Muhammad Haliru Dantoro Kitoro IV | 2015 | Emir | Formed by merging Bussa and Kaiama | ||||||||||
| North | Kanuri | 2009 | Shehu | |||||||||||
| Southeast | Ijaw | Amayanabo | Once part of Nembe | |||||||||||
| Bussa | See Borgu | |||||||||||||
| Bwari/Bwaya Kingdom | Middle belt | Gbagyi/Gwari | Bwari/Bwaya Kingdom | Ibrahim Yaro | 2007 | Esu | ||||||||
| Calabar (Old) | see Akwa Akpa | |||||||||||||
| Calabar (New) | see Kalabari Kingdom | |||||||||||||
| North | Kanuri | Hashimi II El-Kanemi | Emir | |||||||||||
| North | Hausa/Fulani | 2007 | Emir | |||||||||||
| North | Kanuri | Mohammed Masta II Ibn Alamin El-Kanemi[5] | 2010 | Shehu | Divided into Bama and Dikwa Emirates in 2010 | |||||||||
| Ebira | Middle Belt | Igbirra | Shuaibu Mamman Lafiya[6] | 1970 | Ohimegye | |||||||||
| Middle Belt | Ebira | Ahmed Tijane Anaje | 2024 | |||||||||||
| South East | Nwabueze Annekwempaha Ezea II | July 2009 | Eze Edem | The king's traditional salutation is Agaba-Idu. Formerly known as Christopher Nwabueze Ezea II, he took a regnal name on the anniversary of his decennial on the throne. | ||||||||||
| Edo | See Benin | |||||||||||||
| Eko | see Lagos | |||||||||||||
| Ekpeye Kingdom | Southsouth | Igbo | Ekpeye | Robinson Okpoluwon Robinson CON | 1978 | Eze Ekpeyelogbo | ||||||||
| Eri | Southeast | Igbo | Chukwuemeka Eri, Ezeora XXXIV | 1976 | Eze Eri | The Custodian of the Sacred Ovo Eri | ||||||||
| Fantswam (Kafanchan) Chiefdom | Middle Belt | Atyap | 2019 | Agwam Fantswam | Renamed "Zikpak Chiefdom" by the Kaduna State governor, Nasir Elrufai | |||||||||
| North | Bole | 2009 | Moi | Distinct from the Potiskum Emirate, also based in Potiskum | ||||||||||
| North | Hausa/Fulani | Sarkin | Originally a Hausa city-state, conquered by the Fulani in the 19th century | |||||||||||
| North | Fulani | Abubakar Shehu Abubakar | 2014 | Modibo | ||||||||||
| Gujba Emirate | North | Manga | Shettima Muktar Ibn Ali Gangaram | 2000 | Emir | Formerly part of the Fika Emirate | ||||||||
| North | Hausa/Fulani | Ahmad Muhammad Sani dan Maina Muhammad | 1981 | Emir | ||||||||||
| North | Hausa/Fulani | Muhammadu Kabir Danbaba | 1997 | Emir or Sarkin Katsina | The rulers of Katsina and Maradi also use the title "Sarkin Katsina" | |||||||||
| North | Hausa/Fulani | Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar | Emir | |||||||||||
| North | Hausa/Fulani | Adamu Abubakar Maje | 2002 | Emir | ||||||||||
| Ham (Jaba) Chiefdom | 1974 | Kpop Ham | ||||||||||||
| Ibadan Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | Owolabi Olakulehin | 2024 | ||||||||||
| Idah | see Igala | |||||||||||||
| Southwest | Yoruba | Olufemi Olutoye | 2014 | |||||||||||
| Idoma Kingdom | Middle Belt | Elias Ikoyi Obekpa Och'Idoma IV | Och'Idoma | |||||||||||
| Middle Belt | Igala | 2012 | Attah | |||||||||||
| Igbomina Kingdom | Middle Belt | Yoruba | Omu-Aran | Abdulraheem Oladele Adeoti (Olomu Efon II) | 1993 | Olomu | Related to the Igbomina state in general | |||||||
| Southwest | Yoruba | Sikiru Kayode Adetona Ogbagba II | 1960 | |||||||||||
| Southwest | Yoruba | Babatunde Adewale Ajayi | 2017 | Akarigbo | See also Ijebu Kingdom, List of the Lords of Remo | |||||||||
| Ijesaland | see Ilesa | |||||||||||||
| Ikale Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | Ikoya Ikale | George Faduyile, Adegun ll | 1998 | Abodi | Paramount Rulers of Ikale land Okitipupa, Irele and Odigbo local government | |||||||
| Ikateland Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | 27 April 2010 | Oba | House of Kusenla | |||||||||
| Southwest | Yoruba | Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II | 2015 | Ooni | One of the two ranking Yoruba monarchs | |||||||||
| Ilesa Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II | Owa | ||||||||||
| Middle Belt | Yoruba/Fulani | Emir | ||||||||||||
| Ipokia Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | Raufu Oladeinde Adetunji Adeole Onigbaale III | 1985 | Onipokia | |||||||||
| Iroko Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | 2011 | Oniroko | ||||||||||
| Southwest | Yoruba | Oyedeji Ajide | Obalumo | Related to the Isedo Clan (with its own Obalumo) of the Igbomina state of Oke Ila Orangun | ||||||||||
| Southwest | Yoruba | Isinkan | Iralepo | |||||||||||
| Southwest | Yoruba | Itele, Ijebu-East | Mufutau Adesanya Kasali Iboriaran I | 2003 | See also Ijebu Kingdom, Jones Adenola Ogunde Adeyoruwa II reigned until 1996 | |||||||||
| Itsekiri | see Kingdom of Warri | |||||||||||||
| Jajere Emirate | North | Fulani | Hamza Mai Buba Ibn Isa Mashio | 2000 | Emir, Mai, Lamido or Sarkin Jajere | divided into Jajere & Ngelzarma Emirates | ||||||||
| Jama'are Emirate | North | Hausa/Fulani | Muhammadu Wabi IV dan Muhammadu Wabi | 1975 | Emir | |||||||||
| Jema'a Emirate | Middle Belt | Hausa/Fulani | Muhammadu dan Isa | 1999 | Emir | |||||||||
| Middle belt | Jacob Gyang Buba | 2009 | Gbong Gwom | |||||||||||
| Jukun | see Wukari | |||||||||||||
| Kagara Emirate Kagoro | Hausa/Fulani Atyap | Alhaji Ahmad Garba Gunna Attahiru II Ufuwai Bonet | 2021 2008 | Emir Agwam Agworok | A diarchy | |||||||||
| Kaiama | ||||||||||||||
| Southsouth | Ijaw | Amanyanabo | ||||||||||||
| North | Hausa/Fulani | Muhammadu Sanusi II | 2024 | Emir | ||||||||||
| Karu Kingdom | Middle Belt | Gbagyi/Gwari | Karu | Luka Panya Baba | 2004 | Esu | ||||||||
| North | Fulani/Kanuri | Umar Muhammadu Kabir Umar | 2017 | Emir | ||||||||||
| North | Hausa/Fulani | 2008 | Emir or Sarkin Katsina | The rulers of Gusau and Maradi also use the title "Sarkin Katsina" | ||||||||||
| North | Hausa/Fulani | Najib Husaini Adamu | Emir | |||||||||||
| Keana Chiefdom | Middle Belt | Agatu | Abdullahi Amegwa | 2016 | Osana of Keana | |||||||||
| North | Hausa/Fulani | Sama'ila Muhammad Mera | 1996 | Amir Argungu | ||||||||||
| Keffi Emirate | Middle Belt | Hausa/Fulani | Muhammadu Cindo Yamusa II | Emir | ||||||||||
| Middle Belt | Hausa/Fulani | 2021 | Sarkin Sudan | |||||||||||
| Kumbwada | Niger State | Hajiya Haidzatu Ahmed | 1998 | Queen | ||||||||||
| Kupa | Middle Belt | Kupa/Nupe | Abugi | Muhammadu Kabiru Isah II | 1967 | Maiyaki | ||||||||
| North | Kanuri | 2019 | Emir | Sarkin Lafia | ||||||||||
| Lafiagi Emirate | Middle Belt | Nupe | Mohammed Kudu Kawu | 2021 | Etsu | Fulani jihad state founded 1824 | ||||||||
| Lagos | Southwest | Yoruba | 2003 | Formerly known as Eko | ||||||||||
| Middle Belt | Nupe | 2002 | Etsu | |||||||||||
| Middle Belt | Umaru Mohammed Sani | Emir | ||||||||||||
| North | Manga | Bashir Albishir Bukar[7] | Emir | |||||||||||
| Misau Emirate | North | Kanuri/Fulani | Ahmed Suleiman | 2015 | Emir | |||||||||
| Moroa | Middle Belt | Atyap | 1966 | Agwam Asholyio | ||||||||||
| Mubi Emirate | Middle Belt | Abu Bakar Isa Ahmadu | Emir | |||||||||||
| Middle Belt | Hausa/Fulani | Abbas Tafida[8] | 1988 | Emir | ||||||||||
| Nasarawa Emirate | Middle Belt | Hausa/Fulani | 2018 | Emir | ||||||||||
| Southsouth | Ijaw | Edmund Maduabebe Daukoru, Mingi XII | 2008 | Amanyanabo | ||||||||||
| Southsouth | Ijaw | Amanyanabo | ||||||||||||
| North | Hausa/Fulani | Yunusa Muhammad Danyaya | Chief | |||||||||||
| Southeast | Igbo | 1963 | ||||||||||||
| Southeast | Igbo | 1988 | Eze Nri | Holder of the highest and most revered ofo in Igboland, the Ofo Nri-Menri. | ||||||||||
| Obioko Kingdom | Southeast | Obioko | Ekpo Eyo Abassi Eyo III | 2008 | Obong | |||||||||
| Chukwudubem Iweka III | Eze Obosi | Anambra State | Baker Jr 1. | 2014 | Oke Ila Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | Olufemi Oladapo Babalola | Obalumo | Related to the Igbomina state of Isedo | ||||
| Oke-Ona Egba | Southwest | Yoruba | Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso Karunwi III | 1989 | Oshile | Part of the confederation of Egbaland | ||||||||
| Otherwise known as Bonny since colonial times | ||||||||||||||
| South-South | Urhobo | Orhue I | 2006 | Orodje | ||||||||||
| Southeast | Alfred Semenitari Abam Ado IX | 2002 | Amanyanabo | |||||||||||
| Southwest | Yoruba | 2006 | ||||||||||||
| Southeast | Igbo | Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe | 2002 | Obi | ||||||||||
| Southeast | Igbo | Patrick II Acholonu | 2009 | Igwe XI, Duru IX | ||||||||||
| Southwest | Yoruba | Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun | 2010 | Ataoja | ||||||||||
| Southeast | Igbo | Emmanuel E. Njemanze | 1989 | Ozuruigbo | ||||||||||
| Southwest | Yoruba | 2019 | Olowo | |||||||||||
| Southwest | Yoruba | Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu II | 2005 | Part of the confederation of Egbaland | ||||||||||
| Southwest | Yoruba | One of the two ranking Yoruba monarchs | ||||||||||||
| Middle Belt | Nupe | 2019 | Etsu | |||||||||||
| North | Ngizim | Umar Bubaram[9] | Emir | Not to be confused with the Fika Emirate, based in the same town | ||||||||||
| Rano | North | Hausa/Fulani | ||||||||||||
| North | Hausa/Fulani | 2006 | Sultan | See also List of Sultans of Sokoto | ||||||||||
| Middle Belt | Hausa/Fulani | 2000 | Sarkin Zazzau | Formerly Abuja Emirate | ||||||||||
| Middle belt | Tiv | James Ayatse | 2016 | Tor Tiv | ||||||||||
| Middle Belt | Tula | Kaltungo, Gombe | Abubakar Buba Atare II | 2009 | Mai | |||||||||
| Ubani | see Bonny | |||||||||||||
| Ugbo-Igbo | Southeast | Igbo | Ugbo town | Godwin Ebem Udeonu | October 1978 | Igwe | ||||||||
| Southwest | Yoruba | 2009 | Olugbo | |||||||||||
| Southsouth | Otovowodo | Ajuwe Oharisi III | 1992 | |||||||||||
| Southsouth | Ode-Itsekiri | Ogiame Atuwatse III | 2021 | Olu | Olu of Warri. See also kingdom of Warri 1478 | |||||||||
| Muhammadu Sambo Haruna | October 2010 | Emir | Fulani Emirate | |||||||||||
| Middle Belt | Manu Ishaku Ada Ali | 28 January 2022 | Aku Uka | |||||||||||
| North | Hausa/Fulani | Muhammad Zayyanu | Sarkin | |||||||||||
| Zamfara Emirate | North | Hausa/Fulani | Muhammad Attahiru Ahmad | Sarkin | ||||||||||
| Zaria | ||||||||||||||
| North | Hausa/Fulani | Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli | 2020 | Sarkin | The ruler of the Suleja Emirate also uses the title "Sarkin Zazzau" | |||||||||