Do you know about the Northern part of Nigeria? This article provides information on the states that make up the north of Nigeria, their dates of creation and the events that led up to that. Read on below:
On January 1, 1897, the protectorate of Northern Nigeria was proclaimed by Frederick Lugard. Thus, the Nothern and Southern parts of Nigeria were distinctly different from each other, having their own customs, government and foreign relations. Northern Nigeria used to be an autonomous division within Nigeria. This was based on the Treaty of Berlin (1885) which granted Northern Nigeria to Britain. Governor Frederick Lord Lugard controlled the region using the local rulers. This is what is referred to as indirect rule. The geographical area of the Northern Nigeria Protectorate at this time included Sokoto Caliphate and parts of the conquered Bornu Empire.
It was not until 1914 that the Northern Nigeria Protectorate was merged with Southern Nigeria, and thus Nigeria was formed.
In 1967, the Federal Military Government of General Yakubu Gowon created twelve new states from the existing four regions that had constituted of Nigeria. Thus, Northern Nigeria was divided into the following:
List of Northern States in Nigeria & Their Details
Currently, Northern Nigeria has nineteen states, which are:
- Benue state
- Borno state
- Bauchi state
- Kano state
- Katsina state
- Plateau state
- Taraba state
- Niger state
- Adamawa state
- Kaduna state
- Sokoto state
- Gombe state
- Jigawa state
- Kebbi state
- Nassarawa state
- Yobe state
- Zamfara state
- Kwara state
Bauchi State whose capital is Bauchi is located in northern Nigeria. The state was formed on 3 February 1976 from the former North-Eastern State. Originally, Bauchi state was part of the now Gombe State, which became a distinct state in 1996.
Benue State is one of the Northcentral states in Nigeria. The state was created on 3 February 1976 from Benue Plateau state. Benue is a rich agricultural region. Benue state is predominantly inhabited by the Tiv, Idoma and Igede people, whose languages are Tiv, Idoma, and Igede respectively.
The capital of Benue state is Makurdi.
Borno state was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Northeastern region. Its capital is Maiduguri. Until 1991, what is now Yobe state was a part of Borno state. Borno state is the homeland of the Kanuri people in Nigeria.
Kaduna state is located in Northwest Nigeria. It was created on 27 May 1967 from the split of the North-central state (from 1967-1976) The capital of Kaduna state is the city of Kaduna.
Kano state was created on 27 May 1967 from part of the Northern region. Kano State is located in the North-central part of Nigeria. Kano is the largest of the Northern provinces in terms of population and economy. Kano state shares borders with Katsina State to its north-west, Jigawa State to its north-east, Bauchi State to its south-east and Kaduna State to its south-west. The capital of Kano State is Kano.
Katsina State was created on 23 September 1987. Its capital is the city of Katsina. Katsina state was created from the former Kaduna state. It is located in the northwest zone of Nigeria.
Kebbi state was created on 27 August 1991 out of Sokoto state. It is located in north-western Nigeria and its capital is Birnin Kebbi. Kebbi State shares borders with Sokoto State, Niger State, and Zamfara State.
Kogi state was created from parts of Kwara state and Benue state. It is located in the central region that is the Middle belt of Nigeria. It is popularly known as the confluence state because River Niger and River Benue meets at the state’s capital, Lokoja. The state currently comprises the people of the Kabba Province of Northern Nigeria.
Kwara State was created on 27 May 1967 from the Northern region. Kwara state is located in Western Nigeria although within the North Central geopolitical zone. Its capital is Ilorin. The primary ethnic group in Kwara State is Yoruba, with minority groups of Nupe, Bariba, and Fulani.
Niger State was created on 3 February 1976 from North-Western state. It is located in Central Nigeria and is the largest state in the country. Its capital is Minna. The majority of the tribes in Niger state include: The Nupe, Gbagyi, Kamuku, Kambari, Dukawa, Hausa and Koro
Sokoto state was created on 3 February 1976 from the North-western region. It is located in the extreme northwest of Nigeria. The capital of Sokoto state is the city of Sokoto which was also the capital of the former North-western state.
Taraba state was created from Gongola state on 27 August 1991. Taraba state is located in North-Eastern Nigeria. Its capital is Jalingo.
Yobe state was carved out from Borno state on 27, August 1991. It is located in Northeast Nigeria. It is mainly an agricultural state. It was created on August 27, 1991. Its capital is Damaturu
Zamfara state was created from Sokoto state on 1 October 1996. It is located in northwestern Nigeria. Its capital is Gusau.
Jigawa State was created from Kano state on 27 August 1991. It is located in Northwestern Nigeria. Its capital is Dutse.
Gombe State was created on 1 October 1996 from Bauchi state. It is located in the northeastern part of Nigeria. Its capital is Gombe.
Adamawa is located in northeastern Nigeria, Its capital is Yola. When Taraba State was carved out from Gongola State in 1991, the Gongola state was renamed Adamawa state.
Nasarawa state was created on 1 October 1996 from the now Plateau State. Nasarawa State shares boundaries with Kaduna state to its north, Abuja to its west, Kogi and Benue state to its south and to its east by Taraba and Plateau States.