States with largest number of Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria

The top 10 States with the largest number of Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria are:

  1. Kano: 44
  2. Katsina: 34
  3. Oyo: 33
  4. Akwa lbom: 31
  5. Osun: 30
  6. Barno: 27
  7. Imo: 27
  8. Jigawa: 27
  9. Delta: 25
  10. Niger: 25

Nigeria comprises 36 states, 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 9,410 Council Wards. The wards (electoral districts) serve as the smallest administrative units for governance. It is especially relevant during local elections and for activities meant to reach the grassroots directly.

Nigeria’s division into states, LGAs, and wards ensures that governance reaches all levels of society. This hierarchical structure allows local government areas and wards to effectively address community-specific needs and engage citizens in democratic processes.

Nigeria, as a federal republic, has these details as concerns its administrative divisions:

  • Total number of states: 36 (and 1 Federal Capital Territory)
  • Total number of LGAs: 774
  • Total number of council wards: 9,410

Nigeria’s 36 states are:

  1. Abia
  2. Adamawa
  3. Akwa Ibom
  4. Anambra
  5. Bauchi
  6. Bayelsa
  7. Benue
  8. Borno
  9. Cross River
  10. Delta
  11. Ebonyi
  12. Edo
  13. Ekiti
  14. Enugu
  15. Gombe
  16. Imo
  17. Jigawa
  18. Kaduna
  19. Kano
  20. Katsina
  21. Kebbi
  22. Kogi
  23. Kwara
  24. Lagos
  25. Nasarawa
  26. Niger
  27. Ogun
  28. Ondo
  29. Osun
  30. Oyo
  31. Plateau
  32. Rivers
  33. Sokoto
  34. Taraba
  35. Yobe
  36. Zamfara

While Kano has 44 Local Government Areas, the largest number per a state in Nigeria, Bayelsa has 8 Local Government Areas, the smallest number per a state in Nigeria. (Abuja has 6 Local Government Areas so in a context where it is considered as a state, it has the smallest number followed by Bayelsa).

States and their Local Government Areas

Largest to smallest: List of States and their Local Government Areas: From States with the largest number of Local Government Areas to the ones with the smallest number.

StateLGA
Kano44
Katsina34
Oya33
Akwa lbom31
Osun30
Barno27
Imo27
Jigawa27
Delta25
Niger25
Benue23
Kaduna23
Rivers23
Sakata23
Adamawa21
Anambra21
Kebbi21
Kogi21
Bauchi20
Lagos20
Ogun20
Cross River18
Eda18
Ondo18
Abia17
Enugu17
Plateau17
Yobe17
Ekiti16
Kwara16
Taraba16
Zamfara14
Ebonyi13
Nasarawa13
Gombe11
Bayelsa8
FCT6

Council Wards, their Local Government Areas and States

Largest to smallest: List of States and their Council Wards: From States with the largest number of Council Wards to the ones with the smallest number.

StateWards
Kano484
Lagos377
Imo376
Katsina361
Oya351
Osun332
Anambra330
Akwa lbom328
Plateau325
Bauchi323
Rivers318
Barno310
Jigawa288
Enugu280
Benue277
Niger275
Abia267
Delta267
Kaduna255
Sakata244
Ogun240
Kogi239
Ebonyi235
Adamawa226
Kebbi225
Ondo203
Kwara193
Cross River192
Eda192
Yobe178
Ekiti177
Taraba167
Nasarawa147
Zamfara147
Gombe114
Bayelsa105
FCT62

Local Government Areas (LGAs) are administrative divisions under the country’s federal structure. The Local Government Areas serve as the third level of government, below the states and the federal government. They are responsible for providing certain public services to local communities, such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and waste management.

Nigeria is divided into 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and each state (except the FCT) is divided into multiple LGAs. As of now, there are 774 LGAs across the country.

The FCT has its own unique administrative setup. It is divided into 6 Area Councils:

  1. Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC)
  2. Bwari Area Council
  3. Gwagwalada Area Council
  4. Kwali Area Council
  5. Kuje Area Council
  6. Abaji Area Council

Each LGA has a Local Government Council that includes a chairman (elected through local elections) and other officials responsible for the local governance and services.

The responsibilities of LGAs generally include:

  • Local administration and governance.
  • Provision of primary healthcare and health services.
  • Management of local markets and economic planning.
  • Road maintenance and local infrastructure.
  • Education at the primary and secondary levels.
  • Waste collection and sanitation services.

Council Wards

Nigeria Council Wards serve several purposes:

  1. Basic Administrative Units: Wards are the smallest electoral and administrative units in Nigeria’s political structure, directly impacting local governance.
  2. Election of Councillors: Each ward elects a councillor who represents them in the LGA council, providing direct governance and a voice for local residents.
  3. Varied Number of Wards: The number of wards varies by LGA and state, depending on population density and geographic considerations.
  4. Grassroots Representation: Wards serve as a bridge between the people and local government, enabling more localized governance and representation.

More