Niger State

State of Nigeria

This article is about a state in Nigeria. For the sovereign country of the same name, see Niger.

State in Nigeria

Niger

State

From top, left to right: Minna City gate (exit); Tunga roundabout; AP roundabout; Minna central mosque; St. Michael's Cathedral; landscape view of Minna city

Flag

Nicknames:

The Power State

Location of Niger State in Nigeria

Coordinates: 10°00′N 6°00′E﻿ / ﻿10.000°N 6.000°E﻿ / 10.000; 6.000
Country|  Nigeria
Date created| 3 February 1976
Capital| Minna
Government

• Body| Government of Niger State
• Governor
(List)| Mohammed Umar Bago (APC)
• Deputy Governor| Yakubu Garba (APC)
• Legislature| Niger State House of Assembly
• Senators| E: Sani Musa (APC)
N: Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC)
S: Muhammad Bima Enagi (APC)
• Representatives| List
Area

• Total| 76,363 km2 (29,484 sq mi)
• Rank| 1st of 36
Population

(2006)[2]

• Total| 3,954,772
• Estimate

(2022)

| 6,783,300[1]
• Rank| 9th of 36
• Density| 52/km2 (130/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)

• Year| 2021
• Total| $29.63 billion[3]
• Per capita| $4,496[3]
Time zone| UTC+01:00 (WAT)
postal code|

920001

ISO 3166 code| NG-NI
HDI (2018)| 0.482[4]
low · 28th of 37
Website| NigerState.gov.ng

Niger is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria. It is the largest state in the country by area.[5][6][7] The state capital is Minna. Other major cities are Bida, Kontagora and Suleja.[8][9] Niger state was formed in 1976 when the then North-Western State was divided into Niger State and Sokoto State.[8] It is home state of two former Nigerian military heads of state— Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar. The Nupe,Adara, Gbagyi, Kamuku, Kambari, Gungawa, Hun-Saare, Hausa and Koro form the majority of numerous indigenous tribes of Niger State.[10]

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, along with the new Zungeru Dam.[11] The Jebba Dam straddles the border of Niger state and Kwara state. 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.[12] 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.[13]

## Government

[edit]

Like most Nigerian states, Niger State is governed by a democratically-elected Governor, who is currently Mohammad Umar Bago. The governor works with the Niger State House of Assembly.[14][9] The capital city is Minna.[15]

The state has three Senatorial Zones/Districts: Niger East, Niger North, Niger South.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

### Electoral system

[edit]

The governor is selected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two -third of the State local government Areas. If no candidate passes threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government Areas.[24]

### Local government

[edit]

The state has 25 Local Government Areas, each headed by a local government chairman. They are divided into districts, each with a district head while villages are headed by village heads.

The local government areas are:

* Agaie
* Agwara
* Bida
* Borgu
* Bosso
* Chanchaga
* Edati
* Gbako
* Gurara
* Katcha
* Kontagora
* Lapai
* Lavun
* Magama
* Mariga
* Mashegu
* Mokwa
* Munya
* Paikoro
* Rafi
* Rijau
* Shiroro
* Suleja
* Tafa
* Wushishi

## Education

[edit]

Tertiary educational institutions in Niger state include:

* Federal College of Education, Kontagora
* Federal Polytechnic, Bida[25]
* Federal University of Technology Minna[26]
* Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai
* Niger State College of Education Minna[27]
* Niger State Polytechnic, Zungeru[28]

## Transport

[edit]

Federal Highways are:

* A1 north from Ilorin in Kwara State across the Niger River by a four-lane bridge at Jebba for 388 km as part of the African Unity Road (TAH2: Trans-African Highway 2) to Kontagora, then via Ibeto to Yelwa in Kebbi State.
* A125 continuing TAH2 east from A1 at Kontagora via Tegina to Kaduna State at Gishiri.
* A124 east from A1 north of Mokwa via Bida and Agaie as the Bida-Abuja Rd to Abuja, FCT at Kudan.

Two roads to Benin:

* The Wana-Babana Rd at Babana to Basso.
* Agwara Tungar Jatau Swate Maje Rd from Agwarra via Konkwesso to RNIE 7 to Ségbana.

Other Major Roads include:

* The Minna-Tagbari Rd northeast to Kaduna State as the Chibian-Zazaga-Sarkin Pawa Rd
* The Minna-Bida Rd
* The Mararaba-Makutu-Mapi Rd southeast from Minna via Matumbi and Paiko to A124 at Daga
* Yelwa-Mokwa Rd across the Niger River by a bridge from Kato to Jinjima

Railways:

the Western Line north from Lagos via Ibadan and Ilorin across the Niger River at Jebba by a 547 m bridge (1915) via Minna to Kaduna, with a branch line from Minna 155 km to the port of Baro on the Niger River, which is connected with Kano by the Northern Line.

Airports:

* Minna Airport

## Natural resources

[edit]

Niger State has abundant natural resources, including:[29]

* Uranium
* Coal
* Gold
* Iron ore
* Tin
* Phosphate
* Crude oil[30]
* Molybdenum
* Salt
* Gypsum

## Languages

[edit]

Languages of Niger State listed by LGA:[31]

LGA | Languages

|

Agaie | Nupe; Dibo; Kakanda;
Agwara | Cishingini
Bida | Nupe; Hausa; BassaNge; Gbari
Borgu | Busa; Bisã; Boko; Cishingini; Laru; Reshe
Chanchaga | Basa-Gumna; Basa-Gurmana; Gbagyi; Gbari; Nupe; Kamuku; Tanjijili
Edati | Nupe; BassaNge
Bosso | Gbayi; Gwari
Gbako | Nupe
Gurara | Gwandara; Gbagyi
Katcha | Nupe; Dibo; Kupa
Kontagora | Hausa; Acipa; Eastern; Asu; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi
Lapai | Nupe; Dibo; Gbagyi/Gbari; Gupa-Abawa; Kakanda; Kami;
Magama | Dukkawa Lopa; Tsikimba; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi
Mariga | Baangi; Bassa-Kontagora; Cicipu; Kamuku; Nupe; Rogo; Shama-Sambuga; Tsikimba; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi
Mashegu | Asu; Tsikimba; Tsishingini; Nupe-Tako
Minna | Gbagyi; Gbari
Mokwa | Nupe; Hausa; Yoruba; Gbari
Munya | Adara
Paikoro | Gbagyi/Gbari; Kadara
Rafi | Basa-Gurmana; Bauchi; Cahungwarya; Fungwa; Gbagyi; Gbari; Kamuku; Pangu; Rogo; Shama-Sambuga
Rijau | Dukkawa Fulani; C'Lela; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi; ut-Hun
Shiroro | Gbagyi
Suleja | Gbagyi; Gbari
Tafa | Gbagyi
Wushishi | Gbagyi; Gbari

[31]

## Geography

[edit]

### Climate

[edit]

The state has very warm climate with a yearly average of 34° Celsius. It is warm or hot all year, but there are few typically tropical and sultry months, although humidity is sometimes uncomfortably high in June to September. The best time for traveling is from November to April, when there is less rain. The rainiest days occur in May to October. September has the rainiest days, and December the least. January is the sunniest month, and August the least sunny.[32]

## Gallery

[edit]

* Niger state secretariat

* Mobil Junction

* Bahago Roundabout

* St. Michael Catholic Cathedral Minna

* Welcome to Minna

* An Inland valley rice production near Bida, Niger State

## See also

[edit]

* List of governors of Niger State
* List of villages in Niger State
* Niger State Local Government Areas

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Niger State: Subdivision". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
2. ^ "2006 PHC Priority Tables – NATIONAL POPULATION COMMISSION". population.gov.ng. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
3. ^ a b Okeowo, Gabriel; Fatoba, Iyanuoluwa, eds. (13 October 2022). "State of States 2022 Edition" (PDF). Budgit.org. BudgIT. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
4. ^ "Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
5. ^ "Safety and security - Nigeria travel advice". GOV.UK. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
6. ^ "BTI 2022 Niger Country Report". BTI 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
7. ^ "Nigeria at a glance | FAQ in Nigeria". www.fao.org. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
8. ^ a b Terhemba wuam, Muhammed Lawal Salahu (2014). Aspects of Niger state History: Essays in Honour of Professor Ibrahim Adamu Kolo.
9. ^ a b A.B. Mamman, J.O. Oyebanji (2000). Nigeria: A people United, A Future Assured. Vol.2.
10. ^ Baba, J.M (1993). Niger state: Nigeria: Giant in the tropics, Vol.2: state survey.
11. ^ "Kainji, Jebba Shiroro Dams Underutilized Says Niger Government. – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
12. ^ Niger state (1999). Niger state official diary, Ministry of Information. Minna.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
13. ^ "Kainji Lake National Park". United Nations Environment Programme: World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
14. ^ Oguntola, Tunde (27 September 2022). "2023: Next President, Govs Must Get Two-thirds Spread, Says INEC". Retrieved 23 February 2023.
15. ^ "Niger State Local Government Areas". finelib.com. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
16. ^ "Senate spokesman, Sabi, returns, as APC sweeps Niger NASS polls". The Sun Nigeria. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
17. ^ Usman, Samson Atekojo (18 November 2019). "Senator Sabi defends hate speech bill, insists on death by hanging". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
18. ^ "Elections may not hold in Niger east north". guardian.ng. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
19. ^ Olasupo, Abisola (15 February 2019). "Elections may not hold in Niger East, North". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
20. ^ "INEC issues certificate of return to Niger East senator-elect - Premium Times Nigeria". 9 September 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
21. ^ "Breaking: Supreme Court sacks Niger East senator, announces his replacement -". The Eagle Online. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
22. ^ Olowolagba, Fikayo (29 July 2019). "Supreme Court hands ruling on Senator Enagi's election". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
23. ^ "Sabi, Bima, Declared Winners Of Niger North And South Senatorial Seats". Channels Television. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
24. ^ Oguntola, Tunde (27 September 2022). "2023: Next President, Govs Must Get Two-thirds Spread, Says INEC". Retrieved 23 February 2023.
25. ^ keetu (19 August 2017). "List of Accredited Courses Offered in Federal Polytechnic Bida (Fed Poly Bida)". Retrieved 6 August 2021.
26. ^ "Updated List of Courses Offered In FUTMINNA forJAMB 2021 Registration". O3schools. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
27. ^ Nwachukwu, John Owen (28 September 2023). "NUC approves upgrade of Niger State College of Education to university". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
28. ^ keetu (15 September 2018). "List of Accredited Courses Offered in Poly Zungeru (Niger State Polytechnic Zungeru)". Retrieved 6 August 2021.
29. ^ Ibeh, Royal (28 December 2022). "Baro Inland Port: Shippers Council Reopens Niger Area Office". Retrieved 5 January 2023.
30. ^ vanguard (17 March 2017). "Crude oil deposits found in Bida basin in Niger State". Vanguard News. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
31. ^ a b "Nigeria". Ethnologue (22 ed.). Retrieved 10 January 2020.
32. ^ "Climate: Niger in Nigeria". Worlddata.info. Retrieved 3 December 2022.

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Niger State at Wikimedia Commons

* Official portal
* News on Niger State

* v
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Governors of Niger State

* Murtala Nyako
* Ebitu Ukiwe
* Joseph Oni
* Awwal Ibrahim
* David Mark
* Garba Ali Mohammed
* Lawan Gwadabe
* Musa Inuwa
* Cletus Komena Emein
* Simeon Oduoye
* Habibu Idris Shuaibu
* Abdulkadir Kure
* Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu
* Abubakar Sani Bello
* Mohammed Umar Bago

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