States of Nigeria: Details on how and when created

State Creation in Nigeria

At independence in October 1, 1960, Nigeria has three (3) regions:
1) Northern Region
2) Western Region
3) Eastern Region

In 1963, a new region, the Mid-Western Region, was created from the Western Region.

Then four years later in 1967, the regions were replaced by 12 states by military decree by the then Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, namely;

In 1976, seven new states were created by military decree by the then Head of State General Murtala Mohammed bringing the total to 19 states, including the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

Abuja was carved from parts Kwara, Niger, Kaduna and Plateau States with the bulk of landmass carved out of Niger State

In 1987, the then military President General Ibrahim Babangida created two new states were created – Akwa Ibom State from Cross River State and Kastina State from Kaduna State, bringing the number to 21 States.

Four years later (1991), General Babangida created an additional nine (9) states bringing the total to 30 States. Finaly in 1996, the then military Head of State General Ibrahim Abacha created six (sixe more states, bringing the total to 36 states, which remains till present date.

Map of Nigeria showing states and senatorial zones
1960 – 1963 (4 Regions)1967 (12 States)1976 (19 States)
NORTHERN REGIONNorth-Western State
North-Eastern State
Kano State
North Central State
Benue-Plateau State
Kwara State		Bauchi State
Benue State
Borno State
Gongola State
Kaduna State
Kano State
Kwara State
Niger State
Plateau State
Sokoto State
WESTERN REGIONWestern State
Lagos State		Lagos State
Ogun State
Ondo State
Oyo State
MID WESTERN REGIONMid-Western StateBendel State
EASTERN REGIONEast Central State
Rivers State
South-Eastern State		Anambra State
Cross River State
Imo State
Rivers State
Map of Nigeria showing states
1976 (19 States)1987 (21 States)1991 (30 States)1996 (36 States)
Bauchi State
Benue State
Borno State
Gongola State
Kaduna State
Kano State
Kwara State
Niger State
Plateau State
Sokoto State		Bauchi State
Benue State
Borno State
Gongola State
Kaduna State
Kano State
Katsina State
Kwara State
Niger State
Plateau State
Sokoto State		Adamawa State
Bauchi State
Benue State
Borno State
Jigawa State
Kaduna State
Kano State
Katsina State
Kebbi State
Kogi State
Kwara State
Niger State
Plateau State
Sokoto State
Taraba State
Yobe State		Adamawa State
Bauchi State
Benue State
Borno State
Gombe State
Jigawa State
Kaduna State
Kano State
Katsina State
Kebbi State
Kogi State
Kwara State
Nasarawa State
Niger State
Plateau State
Sokoto State
Taraba State
Yobe State
Zamfara State
Lagos State
Ogun State
Ondo State
Oyo State		Lagos State
Ogun State
Ondo State
Oyo State		Lagos State
Ogun State
Ondo State
Osun State
Oyo State		Ekiti State
Lagos State
Ogun State
Ondo State
Osun State
Oyo State
Bendel StateBendel StateEdo State
Delta State		Edo State
Delta State
Anambra State
Cross River State
Imo State
Rivers State		Anambra State
Akwa Ibom State
Cross River State
Imo State
Rivers State		Abia State
Anambra State
Akwa Ibom State
Cross River State
Enugu State
Imo State
Rivers State		Abia State
Anambra State
Akwa Ibom State
Bayelsa State
Cross River State
Ebonyi State
Enugu State
Imo State
Rivers State
Map of Nigeria showing states and neighbouring countrues

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