Is Borgu LGA Bigger than South East Region as Governor Bago Claimed? Here Are the Facts

• Governor Mohammed Umar Bago claimed that Borgu local government area in Niger State is bigger than the entire South-East region
• Governor Bago's claim has stirred debate across the country on how can a LGA will bigger than five states in a geopolitical region
• The APC governor's claim has been fact-checked by calculating the combined landmass of the southeast states in comparison with that of Borgue LGA

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues

Niger state - Governor Mohammed Umar Bago has come under serious spotlight over claim that that Borgu Local Government Area in Niger State is bigger than the South-East region of Nigeria.

The south east region is made up of five states – Enugu, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Anambra states.

Governor Bago while speaking on TVC’s Politics on Sunday, September 14, 2025, said Borgu LGA is bigger than the entire South East Nigeria

Read also

Nigerian journalist writes to FIFA over delay in removing South Africa's three points

Borgu with its headquarters in New Bussa, is often described as one of the biggest LGA in the country.

Verification

As reported by Daily Trust, findings showed that Borgu covers about 10,992 square kilometres, though some sources put it at 11,267 square kilometres.

Borgu is bigger than Lagos State with 3,577 square kilometres, Anambra State with 4,844 square kilometres, Abia State has 6,320 km, Enugu, 7,161 km, Imo State 5,530 km and many other states in the country.

The South-East region, though one of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones is bigger Borgu LGA when the five states are combined.

Five South East states and landmass

• Anambra state - 4,844 km
• Imo State - 5,530 km
• Ebonyi state - 5,670 km
• Abia State - 6,320 km
• Enugu state - 7,161

Verdict

The South-East covers approximately 29,525 km while Borgu LGA covers about 11,267 km.

Borgu amounts to only about 37 percent of the South-East’s land area.

Read also

FG issues flood alert to 11 states predicted to experience heavy rainfall, mentions the days

This means that the rsouthe ast egion is nearly three times bigger than Borhue local government.

Conclusion

Governor Bago’s claim that Borgu is larger than the entire South-East is false.

The South-East region remains nearly three times Borgu size in landmass.

Bill for 6th south-east state passes second reading

Recall that bill seeking the creation of the sixth state in the South-East geopolitical zone has passed its second reading.

The bill is now under consideration by the Nigerian Senate Committee on Constitutional Review

Senator Osita Izunaso, representing Imo West, shared more details about the name of the proposed new state and location.

Data shows Nigerians' population in southeast

In a previous story, Legit.ng reported that Nigeria's population as of 2024 has been estimated to be around 225 million, according to data shared by StatisSense on Thursday, July 31, 2025.

Read also

Nigerian women get N50,000 from Oluremi Tinubu, Elumelu

In the report, the southern population is estimated to be 100 million, while the population of the northern region is pegged at 125 million.

The data further breaks down the population in the South-South, South West, South East, North-West, North East and North Central.

Source: Legit.ng