Niger State

Niger is a state in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria and the largest state in the country. The state's capital is at Minna. Other major cities are Bida, Kontagora and Suleja. It was formed in 1976 when the then North-Western State was bifurcated into Niger State and Sokoto State. It is home to Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, two of Nigeria's former military rulers. The Nupe, Gbagyi, Kamuku, Kambari, Hun-Saare, Hausa and Koro form the majority of numerous indigenous tribes of Niger State.

Niger
Gurara Falls, a waterfall along the Gurara River in Niger State
Flag
Nickname(s): 
The Power State
Location of Niger State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 10°00′N 6°00′E
Country Nigeria
Date created3 February 1976
CapitalMinna
Government
  Governor
(List)
Abubakar Sani Bello (APC)
  Deputy GovernorAhmed Muhammad Ketso
  Senators
Area
  Total76,363 km2 (29,484 sq mi)
Area rank1st of 36
Population
 (2006)[1]
  Total3,954,772
  Rank18th of 36
  Density52/km2 (130/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
  Year2007
  Total$6.00 billion[2]
  Per capita$1,480[2]
Time zoneUTC+01 (WAT)
postal code
920001
ISO 3166 codeNG-NI
HDI (2018)0.482[3]
low · 28th of 37
Websitenigerstate.gov.ng

The state is named after the River Niger. Two of Nigeria's major hydroelectric power stations, the Kainji Dam and Shiroro Dam, are located in Niger State, and the newly Zungeru Dam is also located there, the Jebba Dam is half Niger state and Kwara Sharing boundaries. The famous Gurara Falls is in Niger State, and Gurara Local Government Area is named after the Gurara River, on whose course the fall is situated. Also situated there is Kainji National Park, the largest National Park of Nigeria, which contains Kainji Lake, the Borgu Game Reserve and the Zugurma Game Reserve.[4]

Government

Like the majority of Nigerian states, it is governed by a Governor and a state House of Assembly. Under the current administration of Abubakar Sani Bello.

Local Government Areas

Niger State consists of 25 local government areas. They are:

Languages

Languages of Niger State listed by LGA:[5]

LGALanguages
AgaieNupe, Dibo; Kakanda;
AgwaraCishingini
BidaNupe, BassaNge, Gbari
BorguBusa, Bisã; Boko; Cishingini; Laru; Reshe
ChanchagaBasa-Gumna; Basa-Gurmana; Gbagyi; Gbari; Nupe; Kamuku; Tanjijili
EdatiNupe, BassaNge
GbakoNupe
GuraraGwandara, Gbagyi
KatchaNupe, Dibo; Kupa
KontagoraAcipa, Eastern; Asu; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi
LapaiNupe, Dibo; Gbari; Gupa-Abawa; Kakanda; Kami;
MagamaLopa; Tsikimba; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi
MarigaBaangi; Bassa-Kontagora; Cicipu; Kamuku; Nupe; Rogo; Shama-Sambuga; Tsikimba; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi
MasheguAsu; Tsikimba; Tsishingini; Nupe-Tako
MinnaNupe; Gbari; Gbagyi
MokwaNupe, Yoruba; Gbari
MunyaAdara
PaikoroGbari; Kadara
RafiBasa-Gurmana; Bauchi; Cahungwarya; Fungwa; Gbagyi; Gbari; Kamuku; Pangu; Rogo; Shama-Sambuga
RijauFulani; C'Lela; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi; ut-Hun
ShiroroGbagyi; Gurmana
SulejaGbagyi; Gbari; Gwandara; Nupe; Tanjijili
WushishiHausa; Nupe; Gbari

Sorko and Zarma are also spoken.[5]

References

  1. "2006 PHC Priority Tables – NATIONAL POPULATION COMMISSION". population.gov.ng. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  2. "C-GIDD (Canback Global Income Distribution Database)". Canback Dangel. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
  3. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  4. "Kainji Lake National Park". United Nations Environment Programme: World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  5. "Nigeria". Ethnologue (22 ed.). Retrieved 10 January 2020.

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