Niger State

Niger State is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria, bordered to the east by Kaduna State and the Federal Capital Territory, to the north by Kebbi State and Zamfara State, and to the south by Kogi and Kwara states, while its western border makes up part of the international border with Benin. It is the largest state in the country by area. The state capital is Minna, and the state is divided into 25 local government areas. Other major cities include Bida, Kontagora, and Suleja.

Of the 36 states of Nigeria, Niger is the eleventh most populous with an estimated population of about 6.7 million as of 2020. Geographically, the state is split between the West Sudanian savanna in the east and the Guinean forest–savanna mosaic ecoregion in the rest of the state. The Kainji Lake as well as the Niger and Kaduna rivers are the state's major water bodies, with the River Niger flowing through from Kainji Lake through the western part of the state and forming the border with Kwara State. Niger State is also home to the Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro Dams, which are major sources of hydroelectric power. Also situated there is Kainji National Park, the largest National Park in Nigeria, which contains Kainji Lake, the Borgu Game Reserve and the Zugurma Game Reserve.

Niger State is ethnically diverse, including communities of Adara, Fulani, Gbagyi, Hausa, Hun-Saare, Kambari, Kamuku, Koro Gungawa, Nupe, and other ethnic groups. In terms of religion, Islam and Christianity are the most practised faiths with a minority of adherents of traditionalist religions.

Historically, parts of modern-day Niger State were centers of powerful pre-colonial states, including the Nupe Kingdom, Gbagyi states, and parts of the Hausa Bakwai states. In the early nineteenth century, parts of the state were incorporated into the Sokoto Caliphate following the Fulani jihad. With British colonization in the early 1900s, the area became part of the Northern Nigeria Protectorate. Upon Nigeria’s independence in 1960, Niger State was initially part of the Northern Region until 1967, when it became part of the North-Western State. In 1976, Niger State was created as a distinct entity following the breakup of North-Western State and in the 1990s, the state gained the Borgu region from Kwara. Since the late 2010s, Niger has been one of the states hit hardest by banditry and terrorism.

Economically, Niger State is largely driven by agriculture along with livestock farming and herding. The state plays a key role in Nigeria’s energy sector due to its hydroelectric dams. Niger State has the tenth-highest GDP in the country but has a low Human Development Index ranking.

Government

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. The capital city is Minna.

The state has three Senatorial Zones/Districts: Niger East, Niger North, Niger South.

Electoral system

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 -thirds 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.

Local government

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:

Education

Tertiary educational institutions in Niger state include:

* Federal College of Education, Kontagora
* Federal Polytechnic, Bida
* Federal University of Technology Minna
* Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai
* Niger State College of Education Minna
* Niger State Polytechnic, Zungeru

Transport

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

Niger State has abundant natural resources, including:

Languages

Languages of Niger State listed by LGA:

Geography

Climate

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.

Gallery

File:State secretariat Minna DJI 0957.jpg, Niger state secretariat
File:Mobil Roundabout Minna.jpg, Mobil Junction
File:Drone shot of Bahago roundabout Minna.jpg, Bahago Roundabout
File:St. Michaels Catholic Church Minna.jpg, St. Michael Catholic Cathedral Minna
File:City gate 6 Minna DJI 0944.jpg, Welcome to Minna
File:Inland valley rice production near Bida, Niger State, Nigeria - panoramio (1).jpg, An Inland valley rice production near Bida, Niger State

See also

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

References

External links

Official portal

News on Niger State

{{Portal bar, Nigeria

States of Nigeria
States and territories established in 1976