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Niger State is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria, bordered to the east by Kaduna State and the Federal Capital Territory, to the north by Kebbi State and Zamfara State, and to the south by Kogi State and Kwara State states, while its western border makes up part of the international border with Benin. It is the largest state in the country by area. The state capital is Minna, and the state is divided into 25 local government areas. Other major cities include Bida, Kontagora, and Suleja.
Of the 36 states of Nigeria, Niger is the eleventh most populous with an estimated population of about 6.7 million as of 2020. Geographically, the state is split between the West Sudanian savanna in the east and the Guinean forest–savanna mosaic ecoregion in the rest of the state. The Kainji Lake as well as the Niger River and Kaduna River rivers are the state's major water bodies, with the River Niger flowing through from Kainji Lake through the western part of the state and forming the border with Kwara State. Niger State is also home to the Kainji Dam, Jebba, and Shiroro Dams, which are major sources of hydroelectric power. Also situated there is Kainji National Park, the largest National Park in Nigeria, which contains Kainji Lake, the Borgu Game Reserve and the Zugurma Game Reserve.
Niger State is ethnically diverse, including communities of Adara language, Fula people, Gbagyi people, Hausa people, Hun-Saare, Kambari, Kamuku languages, Jijili language Gungawa, Nupe people, and other ethnic groups. In terms of religion, Islam and Christianity are the most practised faiths with a minority of adherents of traditionalist religions.
Historically, parts of modern-day Niger State were centers of powerful pre-colonial states, including the Nupe Kingdom, Gbagyi states, and parts of the Banza Bakwai. In the early nineteenth century, parts of the state were incorporated into the Sokoto Caliphate following the Fulani jihad. With British colonization in the early 1900s, the area became part of the Northern Nigeria Protectorate. Upon Nigeria’s independence in 1960, Niger State was initially part of the Northern Region until 1967, when it became part of the North-Western State. In 1976, Niger State was created as a distinct entity following the breakup of North-Western State and in the 1990s, the state gained the Borgu region from Kwara. Since the late 2010s, Niger has been one of the states hit hardest by banditry and terrorism.
Economically, Niger State is largely driven by agriculture along with livestock farming and herding. The state plays a key role in Nigeria’s energy sector due to its hydroelectric dams. Niger State has the tenth-highest GDP in the country but has a low Human Development Index ranking.
The state has three Senatorial Zones/Districts: Niger East, Niger North, Niger South.
The local government areas are:
Two roads to Benin:
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:
| Nupe language; Dibo language |
| Cishingini |
| Nupe; Hausa; BassaNge; Gwari language |
| Busa; Bisã; Boko language; Cishingini; Laru language; Reshe language |
| Gbagyi; Gbari; |
| Nupe; BassaNge |
| Gbayi; Gwari |
| Nupe |
| Gwandara; Gbagyi |
| Nupe; Dibo; Kupa language |
| Hausa; Acipa; Eastern; Asu; Tsishingini; Vadi language |
| Nupe; Dibo; Gbagyi/Gbari; Gupa-Abawa; Kakanda; Kami; |
| Dukkawa Lopa language; Kimba language; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi |
| Baangi language; Bassa-Kontagora; Cipu language; Kamuku languages; Nupe; Rogo; Shama language; Tsikimba; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi |
| Asu; Tsikimba; Tsishingini; Nupe-Tako |
| Gbagyi; Gbari; |
| Nupe; Hausa; Yoruba; Gbari |
| Adara |
| Gbagyi/Gbari; Kadara |
| Basa-Gurmana; Bauchi; Cahungwarya; Fungwa; Gbagyi; Gbari; Kamuku; Pangu; Rogo; Shama-Sambuga |
| Dukkawa Fulani; C'Lela; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi; ut-Hun |
| Gbagyi |
| Gbagyi; Gbari |
| Gbagyi |
| Gbagyi; Gbari; Nupe |
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