List of 25 Local Governments in Niger State

Niger State of Nigeria has a total of 25 Local Government Areas, namely:

  1. Agaie
  2. Agwara
  3. Bida
  4. Borgu
  5. Bosso
  6. Chanchaga
  7. Edati
  8. Gbako
  9. Gurara
  10. Katcha
  11. Kontagora
  12. Lapai
  13. Lavun
  14. Magama
  15. Mariga
  16. Mashegu
  17. Mokwa
  18. Muya
  19. Pailoro
  20. Rafi
  21. Rijau
  22. Shiroro
  23. Suleja
  24. Tafa
  25. Wushishi

Niger State, located in north-central Nigeria, has experienced several changes in its administrative structure since its creation on February 3, 1976, during the regime of General Murtala Ramat Mohammed. Here’s a breakdown of its administrative evolution:

Creation and Initial Structure (1976)

  • Carved out from the North-Western State.
  • Began functioning on April 1, 1976, with 8 Local Government Areas (LGAs):
    • Chanchaga
    • Rafi
    • Gbako
    • Etswan
    • Suleja
    • Mariga
    • Magama
    • Lavun
  • Etswan LGA was later divided into:
    • Agaie
    • Lapai

Expansion During the Second Republic (1979–1983)

  • Under Mallam Muhammadu Awwal Ibrahim, the state expanded to 18 LGAs:
    • Kuta
    • Paikoro
    • Chanchaga
    • Rafi
    • Gbako
    • Katcha
    • Lemu
    • Lapai
    • Agaie
    • Suleja
    • Mariga
    • Bangi
    • Magama
    • Auna
    • Lavun
    • Mokwa
    • Jima-Doko
  • In 1984, the military government reverted to the original 8 LGAs, splitting Chanchaga into:
    • Minna Municipal Council (Minna as headquarters)
    • Shiroro LGA (Kuta as headquarters).

Reorganization Under General Ibrahim Babangida (1991)

  • In 1991, Niger State grew to 19 LGAs when:
    • Nigeria created 9 new states and additional LGAs.

Further Expansion Under General Sani Abacha (1996)

  • By 1996, Niger State added 6 more LGAs during the creation of:
    • 6 states and 182 LGAs nationwide.
  • New LGAs:
    • Katcha
    • Munya
    • Mashegu
    • Edati
    • Tafa
    • Mariga
  • Total LGAs reached 25.

Attempted Creation of More LGAs (2002)

  • The administration of Engr. Abdulkadir A. Kure created 17 additional LGAs, raising the total to 42.
  • These new LGAs were not gazetted by the National Assembly, as required by the constitution.
  • They were converted into Area Development Councils, reverting Niger State to 25 LGAs.

Current Status

  • As of today, Niger State has 25 LGAs, maintaining its structure since 1996.

This administrative evolution highlights the dynamic political and structural adjustments in Niger State over the decades, influenced by military regimes, civilian governments, and constitutional requirements.

Zuma rock is a large monolith, an igneous intrusion, located in Niger State, Nigeria

LGAs Highlights

Here’s a summary of the Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Niger State:

Agaie

  • Headquarters: Agaie town
  • Population (2006): 132,907
  • Postal Code: 911
  • Historical state inhabited by the Nupe, later an emirate under the Fulani Empire in 1822 and part of the British Empire in the early 20th century.

Agwara

  • Headquarters: Agwara town
  • Population (2006): 57,413
  • Postal Code: 923

Bida

  • Headquarters: Bida city (second-largest in Niger State)
  • Population (2007 estimate): 178,840
  • Known for Nupe Kingdom, traditional crafts, brass wares, and festivals like the Durbar and Nupe Day Festival.

Borgu

  • Headquarters: Borgu
  • Population (1991): 110,000
  • Part of Kwara State until transferred to Niger State in 1991. Contains part of Borgu Game Reserve in Kainji National Park.

Bosso

  • Headquarters: Maikunkele town
  • Known for housing the Federal University of Technology, Minna, and hosting refugees from Borno State in 2014.

Chanchaga

  • Headquarters: Minna (state capital)
  • Population (2006): 201,429

Gurara

  • Headquarters: Gawu town
  • Population (2006): 90,974
  • Home to Gurara Waterfalls and primarily inhabited by Gwari people.

Katcha

  • Headquarters: Katcha town
  • Population (2006): 122,176
  • Carved out of Gbako LGA in 1981 to bring government closer to grassroots.

Kontagora

  • Headquarters: Kontagora town
  • Capital of the Kontagora Emirate and a major hub in Niger State.

Lapai

  • Headquarters: Lapai town
  • Population (2006): 110,127
  • Hosts the Lapai Emirate and adjoins the Federal Capital Territory.

Lavun

  • Headquarters: Kutigi town
  • Population (2006): 209,917

Magama

  • Headquarters: Nasko town
  • Population (2006): 181,653

Mariga

  • Headquarters: Bangi town
  • Population (2006): 199,430
  • Second-largest LGA, a commercial center with agriculture and trade as key economic activities.

Mashegu

  • Headquarters: Mashegu town
  • Population (2006): 215,022
  • Borders the Niger and Kaduna Rivers.

Mokwa

  • Headquarters: Mokwa town
  • Known for traditional crafts and processing tools like hoes and cutlasses.

Munya

  • Population (2006): 103,651
  • Inhabited by Gwari people with farming as the main occupation.

Paikoro

  • Headquarters: Paiko town
  • Population (2006): 158,086

Rafi

  • Headquarters: Kagara town
  • Population (2006): 181,929

Rijau

  • Headquarters: Rijau town
  • Population (2006): 176,053

Shiroro

  • Headquarters: Kuta town
  • Population (2006): 235,404

Suleja

  • Headquarters: Suleja city
  • Near Abuja and capital of the Suleja Emirate. Famous for Gbari pottery and textiles.

Tafa

  • Headquarters: Wuse town
  • Population (2006): 83,544

Wushishi

  • Headquarters: Wushishi town

This summary captures the unique features, populations, and cultural significance of each LGA in Niger State. Let me know if you’d like further details on any of them!