Niger is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria and the largest state in the country by area.^[5][6][7] Niger state has three political zones, zone A, B and C. The state's capital is at Minna. Other major cities are Bida, Kontagora and Suleja.^[8][9] It was formed in 1976 when the then North-Western State was divided into Niger State and Sokoto State.^[8] It is home to Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, two of Nigeria's former military rulers. The Nupe, Gbagyi, Kamuku, Kambari, Gungawa, Hun-Saare, Hausa and Koro form the majority of numerous indigenous tribes of Niger State.^[10]

Quick Facts Country, Date created ...

Niger
State
From top, left to right: Minna City gate (exit); Tunga roundabout; AP roundabout; Minna central mosque; St. Michael's Cathedral; landscape view of Minna city
Nicknames:  The Power State
Location of Niger State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 10°00′N 6°00′E
Country	Nigeria
Date created	3 February 1976
Capital	Minna
Government
• Body	Government of Niger State
• Governor (List)	Mohammed Umar Bago (APC)
• Deputy Governor	Yakubu Garba (APC)
• Legislature	Niger State House of Assembly
• Senators	E: Sani Musa (APC) N: Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC) S: Muhammad Bima Enagi (APC)
• Representatives	List
Area
• Total	76,363 km2 (29,484 sq mi)
• Rank	1st of 36
Population  (2006)[1]
• Total	3,954,772
• Estimate  (2022)	6,783,300[2]
• Rank	9th of 36
• Density	52/km2 (130/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
• Year	2021
• Total	$29.63 billion[3]
• Per capita	$4,496[3]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (WAT)
postal code	920001
ISO 3166 code	NG-NI
HDI (2018)	0.482[4] low · 28th of 37
Website	NigerState.gov.ng

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The state is named after the River Niger. Two of Nigeria's major hydroelectric power stations, the Kainji Dam and Shiroro Dam, are located in Niger State, along with the new Zungeru Dam. The Jebba Dam straddles the border of Niger state and Kwara state. The famous Gurara Falls is in Niger State, and Gurara Local Government Area is named after the Gurara River, on whose course the fall is situated.^[11] Also situated there is Kainji National Park, the largest National Park of Nigeria, which contains Kainji Lake, the Borgu Game Reserve and the Zugurma Game Reserve.^[12]

Like most Nigerian states, Niger State is governed by a democratically-elected Governor, who is currently Mohammad Umar Bago. The governor works with the Niger State House of Assembly.^[13][9] The capital city is Minna.^[14]

The state has three Senatorial Zones/Districts: Niger East, Niger North, Niger South.^{[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]}

Tertiary educational institutions in Niger state include:

• Federal College of Education, Kontagora
• Federal Polytechnic, Bida^[24]
• Federal University of Technology Minna^[25]
• Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai
• Niger State College of Education Minna^[26]
• Niger State Polytechnic, Zungeru^[27]

Federal Highways are:

• A1 north from Ilorin in Kwara State across the Niger River by a four-lane bridge at Jebba for 388 km as part of the African Unity Road (TAH2: Trans-African Highway 2) to Kontagora, then via Ibeto to Yelwa in Kebbi State.
• A125 continuing TAH2 east from A1 at Kontagora via Tegina to Kaduna State at Gishiri.
• A124 east from A1 north of Mokwa via Bida and Agaie as the Bida-Abuja Rd to Abuja, FCT at Kudan.

Two roads to Benin:

• The Wana-Babana Rd at Babana to Basso.
• Agwara Tungar Jatau Swate Maje Rd from Agwarra via Konkwesso to RNIE 7 to Ségbana.

Other Major Roads include:

• The Minna-Tagbari Rd northeast to Kaduna State as the Chibian-Zazaga-Sarkin Pawa Rd
• The Minna-Bida Rd
• The Mararaba-Makutu-Mapi Rd southeast from Minna via Matumbi and Paiko to A124 at Daga
• Yelwa-Mokwa Rd across the Niger River by a bridge from Kato to Jinjima

Railways:

the Western Line north from Lagos via Ibadan and Ilorin across the Niger River at Jebba by a 547 m bridge (1915) via Minna to Kaduna, with a branch line from Minna 155 km to the port of Baro on the Niger River, which is connected with Kano by the Northern Line.

Airports:

• Minna Airport

Niger State has abundant natural resources, including:^[28]

Languages of Niger State listed by LGA:^[30]

^[30]

• Niger state secretariat
• Mobil Junction
• Bahago Roundabout
• St. Michael Catholic Cathedral Minna
• Welcome to Minna
• An Inland valley rice production near Bida, Niger State

• List of governors of Niger State
• List of villages in Niger State
• Niger State Local Government Areas