Nigerian State (Capital)
Abuja Federal Capital Territory
Each state in Nigeria is sub-divided into Local Government Areas (LGAs). There are a total of 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
State Creation in Nigeria
At independence on October 1, 1960, Nigeria has three (3) regions:
1) Northern Region
2) Western Region
3) Eastern Region
In 1963, a new region, the Mid-Western Region, was created from the Western Region.
Then four years later in 1967, the regions were replaced by 12 states by military decree by the then Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, namely;
In 1976, seven new states were created by military decree by the then Head of State General Murtala Mohammed bringing in the total to 19 states, including the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.
| 1960 – 1963 (4 Regions) | 1967 (12 States) | 1976 (19 States) |
| NORTHERN REGION | North-Western StateNorth-Eastern StateKano StateNorth Central StateBenue-Plateau StateKwara State | Bauchi StateBenue StateBorno StateGongola StateKaduna StateKano StateKwara StateNiger StatePlateau StateSokoto State |
| WESTERN REGION | Western StateLagos State | Lagos StateOgun StateOndo StateOyo State |
| MID WESTERN REGION | Mid-Western State | Bendel State |
| EASTERN REGION | East Central StateRivers StateSouth-Eastern State | Anambra StateCross River StateImo StateRivers State |
Abuja was carved from parts of Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, and Plateau States with the bulk of the landmass carved out of Niger State
In 1987, the then military President General Ibrahim Babangida created two new states were created – Akwa Ibom State from Cross River State and Kastina State from Kaduna State, bringing the number to 21 States.
Four years later (1991), General Babangida created an additional nine (9) states bringing the total to 30 States. Finally in 1996, the then military Head of State General Ibrahim Abacha created six (six more states, bringing the total to 36 states, which remains till present date.
| 1976 (19 States) | 1987 (21 States) | 1991 (30 States) | 1996 (36 States) |
| Bauchi StateBenue StateBorno StateGongola StateKaduna StateKano StateKwara StateNiger StatePlateau StateSokoto State | Bauchi StateBenue StateBorno StateGongola StateKaduna StateKano StateKatsina StateKwara StateNiger StatePlateau StateSokoto State | Adamawa StateBauchi StateBenue StateBorno StateJigawa StateKaduna StateKano StateKatsina StateKebbi StateKogi StateKwara StateNiger StatePlateau StateSokoto StateTaraba StateYobe State | Adamawa StateBauchi StateBenue StateBorno StateGombe StateJigawa StateKaduna StateKano StateKatsina StateKebbi StateKogi StateKwara StateNasarawa StateNiger StatePlateau StateSokoto StateTaraba StateYobe StateZamfara State |
| Lagos StateOgun StateOndo StateOyo State | Lagos StateOgun StateOndo StateOyo State | Lagos StateOgun StateOndo StateOsun StateOyo State | Ekiti StateLagos StateOgun StateOndo StateOsun StateOyo State |
| Bendel State | Bendel State | Edo StateDelta State | Edo StateDelta State |
| Anambra StateCross River StateImo StateRivers State | Anambra StateAkwa Ibom StateCross River StateImo StateRivers State | Abia StateAnambra StateAkwa Ibom StateCross River StateEnugu StateImo StateRivers State | Abia StateAnambra StateAkwa Ibom StateBayelsa StateCross River StateEbonyi StateEnugu StateImo StateRivers State |