Which state has the highest Local Government Areas in Nigeria?

Which state has the highest Local Government Areas in Nigeria?

There are 36 states in Nigeria, and each is divided into Local Government Areas. Some states have more LGAs because of their size and population. So, which state has the highest Local Government Areas in Nigeria? Kano State leads with 44 LGAs. Keep reading to see the list of local governments in Nigeria and how other states rank.

Kano State road intersection and a site near the ocean
Kano State has the highest number of Local Government Areas. Photo: @Inside Africa (modified by author)
Source: Facebook

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Key takeaways

  • Nigeria has 36 states and 774 Local Government Areas.
  • Kano State has the highest number of LGAs (44).
  • The Federal Capital Territory has the lowest, with 6 LGAs.

Which state has the highest Local Government Areas in Nigeria?

The state with the highest local governments in Nigeria is Kano State. It has forty-four LGAs. Each LGA in Nigeria is further divided into wards.

Local Government Areas in Kano State

There are forty-four (44) Local Government Areas in Kano State. They include:

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  1. Ajingi Local Government Area
  2. Albasu Local Government Area
  3. Bagwai Local Government Area
  4. Bebeji Local Government Area
  5. Bichi Local Government Area
  6. Bunkure Local Government Area
  7. Dala Local Government Area
  8. Dambatta Local Government Area
  9. Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area
  10. Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area
  11. Doguwa Local Government Area
  12. Fagge Local Government Area - Waje
  13. Gabasawa Local Government Area
  14. Garko Local Government Area
  15. Garun Mallam Local Government Area
  16. Gaya Local Government Area
  17. Gezawa Local Government Area
  18. Gwale Local Government Area
  19. Gwarzo Local Government Area
  20. Kabo Local Government Area
  21. Kano Municipal Local Government Area
  22. Karaye Local Government Area
  23. Kibiya Local Government Area
  24. Kiru Local Government Area
  25. Kumbtso Local Government Area
  26. Kunchi Local Government Area
  27. Kura Local Government Area
  28. Madobi Local Government Area
  29. Makoda Local Government Area
  30. Minjibir Local Government Area
  31. Nassarawa Local Government Area
  32. Rano Local Government Area
  33. Rimin Gado Local Government Area
  34. Rogo Local Government Area
  35. Shanono Local Government Area
  36. Sumaila Local Government Area
  37. Takai Local Government Area
  38. Tarauni Local Government Area
  39. Tofa Local Government Area
  40. Tsanyawa Local Government Area
  41. Tudun Wada Local Government Area
  42. Ungogo Local Government Area
  43. Warawa Local Government Area
  44. Wudil Local Government Area

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Basic facts about Kano State

Underpass at Kano State and a view of the a town in the state
Kano State is located in the Northern part of Nigeria. Photo: @Inside Africa (modified by author)
Source: Facebook

Below are some interesting facts about Kano State.

  • It is located in the northern region of the country.
  • It is the most populous state in Nigeria.
  • The Hausa and Fulani make up the majority of the population.
  • It was created on May 27, 1967.

Top 10 states with the highest local government in Nigeria

The 36 states and their local governments are spread across Nigeria, but some states have more LGAs than others. This list of Nigerian states and their local governments highlights the top 10 states with the highest local governments in the country.

  • Kano State (44)
  • Lagos State (20)
  • Katsina State (34)
  • Oyo State (33)
  • Kaduna State (23)
  • Bauchi State (20)
  • Jigawa State (27)
  • Benue State (23)
  • Sokoto State (23)
  • Borno State (27)

Local governments distribution across states

Below are the 36 states and their local governments in Nigeria. These tables give an overview of how the 774 local government areas are distributed across the country. This helps in the management of various administrative tasks and the mapping of natural resources.

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The North-West zones

The table below shows the states in the North-West zone and their LGAs.

StatesNumber of LGAs
Kano44
Katsina34
Jigawa27
Kaduna23
Sokoto23
Kebbi21
Zamfara14

The South-West zones

The table below shows the states in the South-West zone and their LGAs.

StateNumber of LGAs
Oyo33
Osun30
Lagos20
Ogun20
Ondo18
Ekiti16

The South-South zones

The table below shows the states in the South-South zone and their LGAs.

StateNumber of LGAs
Akwa Ibom31
Delta25
Rivers23
Cross River18
Edo18
Bayelsa8

The North-Central zones

The table below shows the states in the North-Central zone and their LGAs.

StatesNumber of LGAs
Niger25
Benue23
Kogi21
Kwara16
Plateau17
Nasarawa13
FCT6

The North-East zones

The table below shows the states in the North-East zone and their LGAs.

Read also

StatesNumber of LGAs
Borno27
Adamawa21
Bauchi20
Yobe17
Taraba16
Gombe11

The South-East zones

The table below shows the states in the South-East zone and their LGAs.

StatesNumber of LGAs
Imo27
Anambra21
Abia17
Enugu17
Ebonyi13

Geopolitical zones

The table below shows the Geopolitical zones and the number of LGAs.

Geopolitical zonesNumber of LGAs
North-West186
South-West137
South-South123
North-Central121
North-East112
South-East95

How many local governments are in Nigeria?

Nigeria has 774 Local Government Areas. Each LGA is managed by a local government council. The council is led by a chairman and supported by elected councillors. Each LGA is divided into between ten and twenty wards. This structure is reflected in any list of states and local governments in Nigeria.

Which LGA is the smallest in Nigeria?

Bakassi is the smallest LGA, with a population of 31,641 as of the 2006 census. It is one of the richest gulfs in the country. It is primarily inhabited by the Oron people and people from Nigeria's Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.

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What are the 4 levels of local government?

The four levels of LGAs are municipalities, regional municipalities, rural communities, and local service districts. These levels guide administration across the country. They also link to resources that list the 774 local governments and their headquarters in Nigeria.

An aerial view of Lagos Nigeria and a street in Lagos
Nigeria has four levels of Local Government Areas. Photo: pexels.com, @McBarth™ Obeya, @Olarotimi Awolaja (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Which state in Nigeria has the lowest local government areas?

The Federal Capital Territory, also known as FCT, has the lowest LGAs (6), Abaji, Abuja, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali. It has a landmass of approximately 7,315 per square kilometre.

Which state in Nigeria has the most local governments?

Kano State has the most local governments in Nigeria. It has 44 Local Government Areas, the highest of all the 36 states.

Which state has 16 local governments in Nigeria?

Ekiti State has 16 Local Government Areas. It is the only state in Nigeria with that exact number.

Which state generates the most money in Nigeria?

Read also

Lagos State remains the top state in Nigeria in terms of internally generated revenue (IGR). In 2023, Lagos generated about ₦815.86 billion, far outpacing all other states.

What is the poorest state in Nigeria?

Based on recent data, Sokoto State is widely regarded as the poorest state in Nigeria. It has the highest poverty rate of about 87.73%.

Which state has the highest Local Government Areas in Nigeria? Kano State leads with 44 LGAs. The state is home to many large markets, like Kurmi Market and Kantin Kwari Market. These markets often specialise in specific products, such as textiles or grains.

Legit.ng published an article about Geopolitical zones in Nigeria and their states. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is divided into six regions, commonly referred to as geopolitical zones. These administrative regions were created during General Sani Abacha's regime.

The six geopolitical zones guide the distribution of economic, educational, and political resources in Nigeria. Professor Sati Umaru Fwatshak of the University of Jos explains their impact on power and governance at the federal and regional levels.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Adrianna Simwa avatar

Adrianna Simwa (Lifestyle writer) Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Legit.ng where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years. She has worked for The Hoth, The Standard Group and Triple P Media. Adrianna graduated from Nairobi University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2020. In 2023, Simwa finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her through her email: adriannasimwa@gmail.com

Sharon Boit avatar

Sharon Boit (Lifestyle writer) Sharon J. Boit is a creative writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience. She began her career as a project manager and researcher at the Center for Urban Research and Innovations, University of Nairobi. Sharon has written articles and blog posts for MSN News, Ihamba Adventures, and Industry Biz. She joined Legit.ng as a Lifestyle Writer in October 2024, covering entertainment, sports, education, and finance. You can reach Sharon J. Boit by email at boit@gmail.com.