Niger
State
Downtown Boston from the Boston Harbor
Brick rowhouses along Acorn Street
Old State House
Massachusetts State House
Fenway Park ballgame at night
Boston skyline from Charles River
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
Emblem of Niger State
Nicknames: 
The Power State
Location of Niger State in Nigeria
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 created3 February 1976
CapitalMinna
Government
 • BodyGovernment of Niger State
 • Governor
(List)		Mohammed Umar Bago (APC)
 • Deputy GovernorYakubu Garba (APC)
 • LegislatureNiger State House of Assembly
 • SenatorsE: Sani Musa (APC)
N: Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC)
S: Muhammad Bima Enagi (APC)
 • RepresentativesList
Area
 • Total76,363 km2 (29,484 sq mi)
 • Rank1st of 36
Population
 (2006)[1]
 • Total3,954,772
 • Rank18th of 36
 • Density52/km2 (130/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
 • Year2021
 • Total$29.63 billion[2]
 • Per capita$4,496[2]
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (WAT)
postal code
920001
ISO 3166 codeNG-NI
HDI (2018)0.482[3]
low · 28th of 37
WebsiteNigerState.gov.ng

Niger is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria and the largest state in the country by area.[4][5][6] Niger state has three political zones, zone A, B and C. The state's capital is at Minna. Other major cities are Bida, Kontagora and Suleja.[7][8] It was formed in 1976 when the then North-Western State was divided into Niger State and Sokoto State.[7] It is home to Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, two of Nigeria's former military rulers. The Nupe, Gbagyi, Kamuku, Kambari, Gungawa, Hun-Saare, Hausa and Koro form the majority of numerous indigenous tribes of Niger State.[9]

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. 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.[10] 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.[11]

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.[12][8] The capital city is Minna.[13]

The state has three Senatorial Zones/Districts: Niger East, Niger North, Niger South.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

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 -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.[22]

Local government

The state has of 25 local government areas, each headed by a local government chairman. The areas which are divided into districts, each with a district head while. Villages are headed by village heads throughout the state.

The local government areas are:

Education

Tertiary educational institutions in Niger state include:

Transport

Federal Highways are:

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:

Natural resources

Niger State has abundant natural resources, including:[34]

Languages

Languages of Niger State listed by LGA:[36]

LGALanguages
AgaieNupe; Dibo; Kakanda;
AgwaraCishingini
BidaNupe; Hausa; BassaNge; Gbari
BorguBusa; Bisã; Boko; Cishingini; Laru; Reshe
ChanchagaBasa-Gumna; Basa-Gurmana; Gbagyi; Gbari; Nupe; Kamuku; Tanjijili
EdatiNupe; BassaNge
BossoGbayi; Gwari
GbakoNupe
GuraraGwandara; Gbagyi
KatchaNupe; Dibo; Kupa
KontagoraHausa; Acipa; Eastern; Asu; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi
LapaiNupe; Dibo; Gbagyi/Gbari; Gupa-Abawa; Kakanda; Kami;
MagamaDukkawa Lopa; Tsikimba; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi
MarigaBaangi; Bassa-Kontagora; Cicipu; Kamuku; Nupe; Rogo; Shama-Sambuga; Tsikimba; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi
MasheguAsu; Tsikimba; Tsishingini; Nupe-Tako
MinnaGbagyi; Gbari
MokwaNupe; Hausa; Yoruba; Gbari
MunyaAdara
PaikoroGbagyi/Gbari; Kadara
RafiBasa-Gurmana; Bauchi; Cahungwarya; Fungwa; Gbagyi; Gbari; Kamuku; Pangu; Rogo; Shama-Sambuga
RijauDukkawa Fulani; C'Lela; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi; ut-Hun
ShiroroGbagyi
SulejaGbagyi; Gbari
TafaGbagyi
WushishiGbagyi; Gbari

[36]

Religion

Mainly Moslem, led by Sheikh Muhammad Rabiu, Imam of Minna, with Sharia law adopted 4 May 2000.

The Ecclesiastical Province of Lokoja with the Anglican Church of Nigeria led by Archbishop Daniel Abubakar Yisa covers Niger and Kogi States and includes the five Dioceses of Minna (1990) led by Bishop Daniel Abubakar Yisa (2005), Doko (2009) led by Bishop Uriah Kolo (2009), Kontagora (2007) led by Bishop Jonah Ibrahim, Kutigi (2008) led by Bishop Jeremiah Kolo, and Bida (1999) led by Bishop Jonah Kolo.

The Roman Catholic Church comprises Diocese of Minna (1964) with 60 parishes under Bishop Martin Igwemezie Uzoukwu (1996), and Kontagora (1995) with 20 parishes under Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna (2012), both suffragans of Kaduna.

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 most rainy days occur in May to October. September has the most rainy days, and December the least. January is the sunniest month, and August the least sunny.[37]

See also

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. 1 2 Okeowo, Gabriel; Fatoba, Iyanuoluwa, eds. (13 October 2022). "State of States 2022 Edition" (PDF). Budgit.org. BudgIT. Retrieved 7 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. ↑ "Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  4. ↑ "Safety and security - Nigeria travel advice". GOV.UK. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  5. ↑ "BTI 2022 Niger Country Report". BTI 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  6. ↑ "Nigeria at a glance | FAQ in Nigeria". www.fao.org. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  7. 1 2 Terhemba wuam, Muhammed Lawal Salahu (2014). Aspects of Niger state History: Essays in Honour of Professor Ibrahim Adamu Kolo.
  8. 1 2 A.B. Mamman, J.O. Oyebanji (2000). Nigeria: A people United, A Future Assured. Vol.2.
  9. ↑ Baba, J.M (1993). Niger state: Nigeria: Giant in the tropics, Vol.2: state survey.
  10. ↑ Niger state (1999). Niger state official diary, Ministry of Information. Minna.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  11. ↑ "Kainji Lake National Park". United Nations Environment Programme: World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  12. ↑ Oguntola, Tunde (27 September 2022). "2023: Next President, Govs Must Get Two-thirds Spread, Says INEC". Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  13. ↑ "Niger State Local Government Areas". finelib.com. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  14. ↑ "Senate spokesman, Sabi, returns, as APC sweeps Niger NASS polls". The Sun Nigeria. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  15. ↑ Usman, Samson Atekojo (18 November 2019). "Senator Sabi defends hate speech bill, insists on death by hanging". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  16. ↑ "Elections may not hold in Niger east north". guardian.ng. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  17. ↑ 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.
  18. ↑ "INEC issues certificate of return to Niger East senator-elect - Premium Times Nigeria". 9 September 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  19. ↑ "Breaking: Supreme Court sacks Niger East senator, announces his replacement -". The Eagle Online. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  20. ↑ Olowolagba, Fikayo (29 July 2019). "Supreme Court hands ruling on Senator Enagi's election". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  21. ↑ "Sabi, Bima, Declared Winners Of Niger North And South Senatorial Seats". Channels Television. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  22. ↑ Oguntola, Tunde (27 September 2022). "2023: Next President, Govs Must Get Two-thirds Spread, Says INEC". Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  23. ↑ keetu (19 August 2017). "List of Accredited Courses Offered in Federal Polytechnic Bida (Fed Poly Bida)". Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  24. ↑ "Updated List of Courses Offered In FUTMINNA forJAMB 2021 Registration". O3schools. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  25. ↑ keetu (15 September 2018). "List of Accredited Courses Offered in Poly Zungeru (Niger State Polytechnic Zungeru)". Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  26. ↑ Lashem, Favour (18 April 2023). "Edu-soko university calls on FG to support private universities". Newsdiaryonline. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  27. ↑ Nigeria, Guardian (25 December 2023). "Newgate varsity names law faculty, library after late CJN, CJ". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  28. ↑ Nwachukwu, John Owen (28 September 2023). "NUC approves upgrade of Niger State College of Education to university". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  29. ↑ "Buhari regime spends N106 million to construct college hall in Minna". 26 October 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  30. ↑ "Niger State School of Nursing Gets Full Accreditation – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  31. ↑ BellaNaija.com (30 March 2016). "Eyagi Community jubilates as Government Technical College in Bida, Niger State receives furniture from MTN Foundation". BellaNaija. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  32. ↑ Okogba, Emmanuel (11 April 2018). "Midwifery School withdraws 50 students". Vanguard News. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  33. ↑ "Federal Government Girls College, Bida". fggcbida.sch.ng. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  34. ↑ Ibeh, Royal (28 December 2022). "Baro Inland Port: Shippers Council Reopens Niger Area Office". Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  35. ↑ vanguard (17 March 2017). "Crude oil deposits found in Bida basin in Niger State". Vanguard News. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  36. 1 2 "Nigeria". Ethnologue (22 ed.). Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  37. ↑ "Climate: Niger in Nigeria". Worlddata.info. Retrieved 3 December 2022.

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