List Of States And Capitals In Nigeria – 1960 To Date

This article listed all the states in Nigeria with their capitals correctly spelled without any error. It includes the first 12 states, 19 states, 30 states, and 36 states and capital including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Most Nigerians can easily resist the country’s state and capital at any point in time.

The total number of states in Nigeria as at today is 36, including the federal capital territory will make it 37 states. Each of these states has its separate capital situated within the state.

Creation of states in Nigeria

Between 1960 when the country had her independence and 1960 when it became a republic, the country was divided into three regions—namely, the western region, the northern region, and the eastern region.

Soon after, the midwestern region was carved out from the western region, which made it four regions.

In 1967, the then head of state General Yakubu Gowon created the first 12 states in the country.

North-Western State, North Eastern State, Kano, Kwara, Benue-Plateau, and Kaduna were all demarcated from the Northern Region. The Western Region carved out of Lagos state.

Three states were gotten from the Eastern Region. Namely, East Central State, Rivers, and Cross River. Finally, the Mid Western region got a new name which was Bendel.

12 States in Nigeria Between 1967 -1976

1. Lagos State
2. North-Western State
3. Kano State
4. Kaduna State
5. North-Eastern State
6. Kwara
7. Cross River State
8. Rivers State
9. Benue-Plateau State
10. Western State
11. East-Central state
12. Mid-Western (Bendel) State

Later in 1976, the then Head of State General Murtala Mohammed Created more states which include;

Today’s Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) was carved from the old Niger State.

Sokoto state and Niger state was gotten from the division of the North-Western State.

The North-Eastern State was divided into three different states, which are Gongola state, Borno state, and Bauchi.

At the same time of the division, Benue-Plateau was separated to become two different states, Benue and Plateau.

Oyo, Ogun, and Ondo were gotten from the division of the Western-State.

And finally, Anambra state and Imo state were gotten from the division of the East Central State.

19 States in Nigeria Between 1976 – 1987

1. Lagos State
2. Kwara State
3. Oyo State
4. Ogun State
5. Ondo State
6. Cross River State
7. Rivers State
8. Niger State
9. Sokoto State
10. Borno State
11. Kano State
12. Kaduna State
13. Bendel State
14. Gongola State
15. Bauchi State
16. Imo State
17. Anambra State
18. Plateau State
19. Benue State

In 1987 General Ibrahim Babangida created Kastina state, which was carved out from the old Kaduna state. He also created Akwa-Ibom state.

In 1991 Abia was created. Adamawa and Taraba state was gotten from the division of the then Gongola state.

Enugu state was created in the same year, Bendel state was divided into two states; Edo state and Delta state.

From Kano state, Jigawa State was carved out while Yobe state was carved out of Borno.

From Sokoto State, Kebbi was created, and Osun state from Oyo. Kogi state was also created in the same period.

30 States in Nigeria Between 1987 – 1996

1. 1. Lagos State
   2. Kwara State
   3. Oyo State
   4. Ogun State
   5. Ondo State
   6. Cross River State
   7. Rivers State
   8. Niger State
   9. Sokoto State
   10. Borno State
   11. Kano State
   12. Kaduna State
   13. Bauchi State
   14. Imo State
   15. Anambra State
   16. Plateau State
   17. Benue State
   18. Kastina state
   19. Akwa-Ibom state
   20. Abia State
   21. Adamawa State
   22. Taraba State
   23. Enugu state
   24. Edo state
   25. Jigawa State
   26. Yobe State
   27. Delta State
   28. Kebbi State
   29. Osun State
   30. Kogi state

Later in 1996, General Sani Abacha Created six more states, namely; Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Bayelsa, Gombe, and Ekiti State, were created.

List of all 36 States and Capital in Nigeria

Frequently Asked Questions

We were able to get the following FAQ and made sure this article provides an answer to them all.

• Who created 19 states in Nigeria
• First 19 states in Nigeria
• States in Nigeria 1967
• Date states were created in Nigeria

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