Nigeria state and capital

Nigeria States and Capitals – List of 36 States in Nigeria, their Capital and Slogan

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I’ve always wanted to write on the list of the 36 states and capitals in Nigeria for quite a long time now. So today, I will be writing on literally everything you need to know about the 36 states in Nigeria, their capital, governors, slogans, and the Local Government Area (LGA).

After going through this article, even if you have not visited Nigeria before, you’ll know literally everything about Nigerian states and their capitals as though you’re living in the country.

Nigeria state and capital

Nigerian 36 States and Capital and Their Slogans With Current Governors in 2023

S/N State Capital Slogan Current Governor
01 Abia State Umuahia God’s Own State Alex Otti
02 Adamawa State Yola Land of Beauty Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri
03 Akwa Ibom State Uyo Land of Promise Umo Eno
04 Anambra State Awka Light of the Nation Charles Soludo
05 Bauchi State Bauchi Pearl of Tourism Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed
06 Bayelsa State Yenagoa Glory of all lands Douye Diri
07 Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia Makurdi Food Basket of the Nation Samuel Ortom
08 Borno State Maiduguri Home of Peace Babagana Umara Zulum
09 Cross River State Calabar The People’s Paradise Bassey Otu
10 Delta State Asaba The Big Heart Sheriff Oborevwori
11 Ebonyi State Abakaliki Salt of the Nation Francis Nwifuru
12 Edo State Benin City Heart Beat of Nigeria Godwin Obaseki
13 Ekiti State Ado – Ekiti Land of Honour and Integrity Abiodun Abayomi
Oyebanji
14 Enugu State Enugu Coal City State Peter Mbah
15 Gombe State Gombe Jewel in the Savannah Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya
16 Imo State Owerri Eastern Heartland Hope Odidika Uzodinma
17 Jigawa State Dutse The New World Umar Namadi
18 Kaduna State Kaduna Centre of Learning Uba Sani
19 Kano State Kano Centre of Commerce Abba Yusuf
20 Katsina State Katsina Home of Hospitality Dikko Radda
21 Kebbi State Birnin Kebbi Land of Equity Nasir Idris
22 Kogi State Lokoja The Confluence State Yahaya Adoza Bello
23 Kwara State Ilorin State of Harmony Abdul Rahman Abdul Razaq
24 Lagos State Ikeja Centre of Excellence Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu
25 Nasarawa State Lafia Home of Solid Minerals Abdullahi Sule
26 Niger State Minna The Power State Umar Bago
27 Ogun State Abeokuta Gateway State Dapo Abiodun
28 Ondo State Akure Sunshine State Rotimi Akeredolu
29 Osun State Oshogbo The State of the Living Spring Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke
30 Oyo State Ibadan Pace Setter State Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde
31 Plateau State Jos Home of Peace and Tourism Caleb Mutfwang
32 Rivers State Port Harcourt Treasure Base of the Nation Siminalayi Fubara
33 Sokoto State Sokoto Seat of the Caliphate Ahmad Aliyu
34 Taraba State Jalingo Nature’s Gift to the Nation Kefas Agbu
35 Yobe State Damaturu Pride of the Sahel Mai Mala Buni
36 Zamfara State Gusau Farming is Our Pride Dauda Lawal

State Creation in Nigeria

When Nigeria got their independence from Great Britain on October 1, 1960, Nigeria had three (3) regions, namely:

  1. Northern Region.
  2. Western Region.
  3. Eastern Region.

However, a mere three years later (precisely in 1963) a new region was added, called the Mid-Western Region. The Mid-Western region was separated from the Western Region.

Four years later in 1967, the regions were replaced by 12 states, through a military decree by the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon. This means that the term “States” was created and introduced by General Yakubo Gowon.

Fast-forward 9 years later, in 1976, seven new states were created by military decree by the then Head of State General Murtala Mohammed, bringing the total number of states in Nigeria to Nineteen (19), including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja.

In 1987, the military President of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Babangida created an additional two new states, which are Akwa Ibom State and Kastina State. Akwa Ibom State was created from Cross River State, while Kastina State was craved out from Kaduna State, bringing the number of Nigeria states in 1987 to 21 States.

Four years later (1991), General Babangida created nine (9) more states, bringing the total number of Nigerian states to thirty (30).

The creation of states in Nigeria ended in 1996, when the then military Head of State, General Ibrahim Abacha created six more states, bringing the total number to 36 states, To this day, no state has been created again.

Here’s a table showing how Nigerian states were created, the year of creation and which state they were carved from.

1960 – 1963 (4 Regions) 1967 (12 States) 1976 (19 States)
NORTHERN REGION
  1. North-Western State
  2. North-Eastern State
  3. Kano State
  4. North Central State
  5. Benue-Plateau State
  6. Kwara State
  1. Bauchi State
  2. Benue State
  3. Borno State
  4. Gongola State
  5. Kaduna State
  6. Kano State
  7. Kwara State
  8. Niger State
  9. Plateau State
  10. Sokoto State
WESTERN REGION
  1. Western State
  2. Lagos State
  1. Lagos State
  2. Ogun State
  3. Ondo State
  4. Oyo State
MID WESTERN REGION
  1. Mid-Western State
  1. Bendel State
EASTERN REGION
  1. East Central State
  2. Rivers State
  3. South-Eastern State
  1. Anambra State
  2. Cross River State
  3. Imo State
  4. Rivers State
1976 (19 States) 1987 (21 States) 1991 (30 States) 1996 (36 States)
  1. Bauchi State
  2. Benue State
  3. Borno State
  4. Gongola State
  5. Kaduna State
  6. Kano State
  7. Kwara State
  8. Niger State
  9. Plateau State
  10. Sokoto State
  1. Bauchi State
  2. Benue State
  3. Borno State
  4. Gongola State
  5. Kaduna State
  6. Kano State
  7. Katsina State
  8. Kwara State
  9. Niger State
  10. Plateau State
  11. Sokoto State
  1. Adamawa State
  2. Bauchi State
  3. Benue State
  4. Borno State
  5. Jigawa State
  6. Kaduna State
  7. Kano State
  8. Katsina State
  9. Kebbi State
  10. Kogi State
  11. Kwara State
  12. Niger State
  13. Plateau State
  14. Sokoto State
  15. Taraba State
  16. Yobe State
  1. Adamawa State
  2. Bauchi State
  3. Benue State
  4. Borno State
  5. Gombe State
  6. Jigawa State
  7. Kaduna State
  8. Kano State
  9. Katsina State
  10. Kebbi State
  11. Kogi State
  12. Kwara State
  13. Nasarawa State
  14. Niger State
  15. Plateau State
  16. Sokoto State
  17. Taraba State
  18. Yobe State
  19. Zamfara State
  1. Lagos State
  2. Ogun State
  3. Ondo State
  4. Oyo State
  1. Lagos State
  2. Ogun State
  3. Ondo State
  4. Oyo State
  1. Lagos State
  2. Ogun State
  3. Ondo State
  4. Osun State
  5. Oyo State
  1. Ekiti State
  2. Lagos State
  3. Ogun State
  4. Ondo State
  5. Osun State
  6. Oyo State
  1. Bendel State
  1. Bendel State
  1. Edo State
  2. Delta State
  1. Edo State
  2. Delta State
  1. Anambra State
  2. Cross River State
  3. Imo State
  4. Rivers State
  1. Anambra State
  2. Akwa Ibom State
  3. Cross River State
  4. Imo State
  5. Rivers State
  1. Abia State
  2. Anambra State
  3. Akwa Ibom State
  4. Cross River State
  5. Enugu State
  6. Imo State
  7. Rivers State
  1. Abia State
  2. Anambra State
  3. Akwa Ibom State
  4. Bayelsa State
  5. Cross River State
  6. Ebonyi State
  7. Enugu State
  8. Imo State
  9. Rivers State

States of Nigeria.

Before sharing the 36 states of Nigeria, let’s take a little stroll into the history of Nigeria. Nigeria as a country is a federation made up of 36 states. Each of the thirty-six (36) states is a semi-autonomous political unit, where the state and its current government (made up of state governors, House of Assembly, LGA chairperson, etc.) share powers with the federal government. According to an agreement under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Each of the 36 states is subdivided into local government areas (LGAs), which means that each state is made up of Local government areas (LGAs). Nigeria has a total of seven hundred and seventy-four (774) local governments.

Under the Nigerian constitution, none of the 36 states have bigger power than the other. To the federal government, each of the 36 states of Nigeria are co-equal and none is supreme over the other. Sovereignty resides with the federal government.

However, when it comes to amending/changing/editing the constitution, this can only be achieved by the National Assembly, although each amendment must be ratified by two-thirds of the 36 states of the federation.

Capital City of Nigeria.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is the capital territory of Nigeria, and this is where the capital city of Abuja is situated. Take note that the FCT is not a state, rather, it is a territory owned and controlled by the Federal Government, administered by Ministers of Government appointed by the President who supervises the administration of the territory.

Note that the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja land today was carved out of these four states, namely: Kwara, Niger, Kaduna and Plateau States. However, the bulk of the FCT Abuja landmass was carved out of Niger State.

Who is the 2023 Minister of FCT?

The current Minister of Abuja Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is Nyesom Wike.

What is the capital of Nigeria?

The national capital of Nigeria is Abuja, in the Federal Capital Territory, which was created by decree in 1976.

List of 36 States and Capital in Alphabetical Order.

  1. Abia (Umuahia)
  2. Adamawa (Yola)
  3. Akwa Ibom (Uyo)
  4. Anambra (Awka)
  5. Bauchi (Bauchi)
  6. Bayelsa (Yenagoa)
  7. Benue (Makurdi)
  8. Borno (Maiduguri)
  9. Cross River (Calabar)
  10. Delta (Asaba)
  11. Ebonyi (Abakaliki)
  12. Edo (Benin City)
  13. Ekiti (Ado-Ekiti)
  14. Enugu (Enugu)
  15. Gombe (Gombe)
  16. Imo (Owerri)
  17. Jigawa (Dutse)
  18. Kaduna (Kaduna)
  19. Kano (Kano)
  20. Katsina (Katsina)
  21. Kebbi (Birnin Kebbi)
  22. Kogi (Lokoja)
  23. Kwara (Ilorin)
  24. Lagos (Ikeja)
  25. Nasarawa (Lafia)
  26. Niger (Minna)
  27. Ogun (Abeokuta)
  28. Ondo (Akure)
  29. Osun (Osogbo)
  30. Oyo (Ibadan)
  31. Plateau (Jos)
  32. Rivers (Port Harcourt)
  33. Sokoto (Sokoto)
  34. Taraba (Jalingo)
  35. Yobe (Damaturu)
  36. Zamfara (Guasau).

Nigerian Government.

As a sovereign nation, each state of Nigeria is given the power and right through its state government 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 only has a singular legislative chamber. The number of each state’s Legislature members should be equal to three times the number of legislators the state has in the Federal House of Representatives. The state legislature has the power to legislate on matters on the concurrent list.

Executive.

We are still discussing states in Nigeria. When it comes to executives at the state level, the head of the executive is the democratically elected governor of the state, 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).

Unlike at the federal level where the head of a state is called a Minister, while at the state level, the head of a ministry is called a commissioner, who is assisted by a permanent secretary, who is also a senior civil servant of the state.

Judiciary.

At the state level, the Judiciary is in co-equal arm 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, and the Chief Justice of the state must be appointed by the governor. However, the approval of the Chief Justice of the state who has been recommended for that position by the government must be endorsed by the state house of assembly.

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