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
- Lagos State
- North-Western State
- Kano State
- Kaduna State
- North-Eastern State
- Kwara
- Cross River State
- Rivers State
- Benue-Plateau State
- Western State
- East-Central state
- 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
- Lagos State
- Kwara State
- Oyo State
- Ogun State
- Ondo State
- Cross River State
- Rivers State
- Niger State
- Sokoto State
- Borno State
- Kano State
- Kaduna State
- Bendel State
- Gongola State
- Bauchi State
- Imo State
- Anambra State
- Plateau State
- 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
-
- Lagos State
- Kwara State
- Oyo State
- Ogun State
- Ondo State
- Cross River State
- Rivers State
- Niger State
- Sokoto State
- Borno State
- Kano State
- Kaduna State
- Bauchi State
- Imo State
- Anambra State
- Plateau State
- Benue State
- Kastina state
- Akwa-Ibom state
- Abia State
- Adamawa State
- Taraba State
- Enugu state
- Edo state
- Jigawa State
- Yobe State
- Delta State
- Kebbi State
- Osun State
- 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
No | STATES | CAPITAL |
1 | Abia | Umuahia |
2 | Adamawa | Yola |
3 | Akwa-Ibom | Uyo |
4 | Anambra | Awka |
5 | Bauchi | Bauchi |
6 | Bayelsa | Yenagoa |
7 | Benue | Makurdi |
8 | Borno | Maiduguri |
9 | Cross River | Calabar |
10 | Delta | Asaba |
11 | Ebonyi | Abakaliki |
12 | Edo | Benin |
13 | Ekiti | Ado-Ekiti |
14 | Enugu | Enugu |
15 | Gombe | Gombe |
16 | Imo | Owerri |
17 | Jigawa | Dutse |
18 | Kaduna | Kaduna |
19 | Kano | Kano |
20 | Katsina | Katsina |
21 | Kebbi | Birnin-Kebbi |
22 | Kogi | Lokoja |
23 | Kwara | Ilorin |
24 | Lagos | Ikeja |
25 | Nassarawa | Lafia |
26 | Niger | Mina |
27 | Ogun | Abeokuta |
28 | Ondo | Akure |
29 | Osun | Osogbo |
30 | Oyo | Ibadan |
31 | Plateau | Jos |
32 | Rivers | Port-Harcourt |
33 | Sokoto | Sokoto |
34 | Taraba | Jalingo |
35 | Yobe | Damaturu |
36 | Zamfara | Gusau |
37 | FCT | Abuja |
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
Trending Articles