Niger | |
---|---|
Nicknames: | |
Coordinates: 10°00′N6°00′E / 10.000°N 6.000°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 |
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]
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]
The governor is selected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two -third of the State local government Areas. If no candidate passes threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government Areas. [23]
The state has of 25 Local Government Areas, each headed by a local government chairman. The areas which are divided into districts, each with a district head while. Villages are headed by village heads throughout the state.
The local government areas are:
Tertiary educational institutions in Niger state include:
Federal Highways are:
Two roads to Benin:
Other Major Roads include:
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:
Niger State has abundant natural resources, including: [28]
Languages of Niger State listed by LGA: [30]
LGA | Languages |
---|---|
Agaie | Nupe; Dibo; Kakanda; |
Agwara | Cishingini |
Bida | Nupe; Hausa; BassaNge; Gbari |
Borgu | Busa; Bisã; Boko; Cishingini; Laru; Reshe |
Chanchaga | Basa-Gumna; Basa-Gurmana; Gbagyi; Gbari; Nupe; Kamuku; Tanjijili |
Edati | Nupe; BassaNge |
Bosso | Gbayi; Gwari |
Gbako | Nupe |
Gurara | Gwandara; Gbagyi |
Katcha | Nupe; Dibo; Kupa |
Kontagora | Hausa; Acipa; Eastern; Asu; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi |
Lapai | Nupe; Dibo; Gbagyi/Gbari; Gupa-Abawa; Kakanda; Kami; |
Magama | Dukkawa Lopa; Tsikimba; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi |
Mariga | Baangi; Bassa-Kontagora; Cicipu; Kamuku; Nupe; Rogo; Shama-Sambuga; Tsikimba; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi |
Mashegu | Asu; Tsikimba; Tsishingini; Nupe-Tako |
Minna | Gbagyi; Gbari |
Mokwa | Nupe; Hausa; Yoruba; Gbari |
Munya | Adara |
Paikoro | Gbagyi/Gbari; Kadara |
Rafi | Basa-Gurmana; Bauchi; Cahungwarya; Fungwa; Gbagyi; Gbari; Kamuku; Pangu; Rogo; Shama-Sambuga |
Rijau | Dukkawa Fulani; C'Lela; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi; ut-Hun |
Shiroro | Gbagyi |
Suleja | Gbagyi; Gbari |
Tafa | Gbagyi |
Wushishi | Gbagyi; Gbari |
The state has very warm climate with a yearly average of 34° Celsius. It is warm or hot all year, but there are few typically tropical and sultry months, although humidity is sometimes uncomfortably high in June to September. The best time for traveling is from November to April, when there is less rain. The rainiest days occur in May to October. September has the rainiest days, and December the least. January is the sunniest month, and August the least sunny. [31]
Kaduna State is a state in the northwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The state capital is its namesake, the city of Kaduna, which was the 8th largest city in the country as of 2006. Created in 1967 as North-Central State, which also encompassed the modern Katsina State, Kaduna State achieved its current borders in 1987. Kaduna State is the fourth largest and third most populous state in the country, Kaduna State is nicknamed the Centre of Learning, owing to the presence of numerous educational institutions of importance within the state such as Ahmadu Bello University.
Kainji Dam is a dam across the Niger River in Niger State of Central Nigeria. Construction of the dam was carried out by Impregilo to designs by Joint Consultants, Balfour Beatty and Nedeco, and began in 1964 to be completed in 1968. The total cost was estimated at US$209 million, with one-quarter of this amount used to resettle people displaced by the construction of the dam and its reservoir, Kainji Lake.
Nupe is a Volta–Niger language of the Nupoid branch primarily spoken by the Nupe people of the North Central region of Nigeria. Its geographical distribution stretches and maintains pre-eminence in Niger State as well as Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory. Nupe is closely related to Kakanda in structure and vocabulary. There are at least two markedly different dialects of Nupe: Nupe central and Nupe Tako.
Zungeru is a town in Niger State, Nigeria. It was the capital of the British protectorate of Northern Nigeria from 1902 until 1916. It is the site of the Niger State Polytechnic and is located on the Kaduna River.
The Jebba Hydroelectric Power Station, also Jebba Power Station, is a hydroelectric power plant across the Niger River in Nigeria. It has a power generating capacity of 578.4 megawatts, enough to power over 364,000 homes. The plant was commissioned on 13 April 1985, although commercial energy production began in 1983.
Katcha is a local government area of Niger State, in central Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Katcha. Badeggi is one of the major towns of the local government area, located on the A124 highway in the west of the area at 9°03′00″N6°09′00″E.
Mokwa is a Local Government Area in Niger State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Mokwa on the A1 highway in the west of the area.
The Basa language, disambiguated as Basa-Benue, and also called Abacha, Abatsa, ru-Basa, Rubassa, is a Kainji language spoken in central Nigeria, in the vicinity of Bassa, Ankpa, Nasarawa, Gurara, Kwali and Makurdi. Blench (2008) notes that Basa-Makurdi, Basa-Gurara and Basa-Kwali are separate varieties from Basa-Kwomu or Basa-Komo of Bassa, Ankpa and Nasarawa Local Government Areas and other Bassa speakers are Bassa Nge (also known as Bassa Nupe.
The Cinda-Regi language is a language complex of Nigeria belonging to the Kamuku branch of Kainji languages.
Ivara Ejemot Esu OFR, is a Nigerian politician, academic administrator and professor and is the former Deputy Governor of Cross River State. He hails from Agwagune in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. He holds the Nigerian National Honours Award in the rank of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) conferred on him by President Obasanjo in 2005 and the Cross River State Honours Merit Award conferred on him by Governor Donald Duke in 2004 for carrying out excellent management reforms at the University of Calabar. Esu has held many positions of responsibility such as Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar (2000–2005); Honourable Minister of State for Tourism, Culture and National Orientation ; Member, Technical Committee on Privatization and Commercialization (TCPC), Presidency, Lagos (1990–1992); Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development Cross River State (1992–1993); Chairman Federal Medical Centre Board, Owerri (2009–2011) and chairman, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi (2012–2015) and was an Elder Statesman Delegate at the 2014 National Conference of Nigeria. Esu is a Soil Scientist (Pedologist) who has taught in various tertiary institutions, some of which include; the Kaduna Polytechnic; Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, University of Calabar, University of Uyo and the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra.
Ibrahim Adamu Kolo was a Niger academic. He lived in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Station is a 700 megawatts (940,000 hp) hydroelectric power plant under construction in Niger State, Nigeria. When completed, as expected, it will be the second-largest hydroelectric power station in the country, behind the 760 megawatts (1,020,000 hp) Kainji Hydroelectric Power Station.
Niger South senatorial district is a electoral district for the Senate of Nigeria, and is Zone A within Niger State. Bima Muhammad Enagi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is the current senator. The Niger South senatorial district covers 8 local government areas which includes:
Niger North senatorial district is known As Zone c within Niger State. The headquarters for Niger North senatorial district is Kontagora. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi of the All Progressives Congress is the current representative of Niger North in the Senate. Niger North senatorial district conceals 8 local government areas which includes:
The 2023 Niger State gubernatorial election will take place on 18 March 2023, to elect the Governor of Niger State, concurrent with elections to the Niger State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly. The election—which was postponed from its original 11 March date—will be held three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections. Incumbent APC Governor Abubakar Sani Bello is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term.
The 2019 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Niger State was held on February 23, 2019, to elect members of the House of Representatives to represent Niger State, Nigeria.
The 2023 Nigerian presidential election in Niger State will be held on 25 February 2023 as part of the nationwide 2023 Nigerian presidential election to elect the president and vice president of Nigeria. Other federal elections, including elections to the House of Representatives and the Senate, will also be held on the same date while state elections will be held two weeks afterward on 11 March.
The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Niger State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Niger State, one from each of the state's three senatorial districts. The elections will coincide with the 2023 presidential election, as well as other elections to the Senate and elections to the House of Representatives; with state elections being held two weeks later. Primaries were held between 4 April and 9 June 2022.
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