How many states are in Nigeria? Is FCT a state? In this article, we’ll share with you a comprehensive list of Nigerian 36 states and capital and their slogans. Also, you’ll find information about the current governors of each state, and links to universities in each state.
There are 36 states in addition to the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, which makes Nigeria a sovereign state. It is home to around 250 distinct cultural groups, the most prominent of which are the Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo.
When the British Protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria were combined in 1914, the area that is now known as Nigeria became a colony of the United Kingdom. Independence was achieved in 1960, and republic status was attained in 1963.
The nation is located in Africa on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, and its capital and political center is the city of Abuja. Nigeria is home to a great number of natural attractions and animal sanctuaries.
Waterfalls, deep rain forests, savannas, and unique primate habitats may be found in national parks and other protected places such as Cross River National Park and Yankari National Park.
The country of Nigeria is home to a wealth of natural resources, most notably significant reserves of petroleum and natural gas. Niger is to the north of Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon are to the east, the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean is to the south, and Benin is to the west. Nigeria has a total land area of 356,669 square miles (923,768 sq km).
In terms of government, Nigeria is divided into six geopolitical zones. Each zone is made up of at least six states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, is the center of government. Nigeria is a federation of 36 states and capitals and one Federal Capital Territory in West Africa.

What are the Nigerian 36 states and capital and their slogan?
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria says that each of Nigeria’s 36 states is a semi-autonomous political unit that shares power with the federal government. Each state has its own government and constitution.
Before it gained its independence, Nigeria was divided into only three areas: the northern, the eastern, and the southern divisions. The nation is home to three main ethnic groups and languages: the Hausa, the Igbo, and the Yoruba, with English serving as the country’s official language.
The most important nation Christianity (Protestant, other Christians, and Roman Catholic), Islam, and traditional beliefs are the many forms of the faith.
For the sake of our conversation, we are going to zero in on the many slogans that are associated with her states and capital, as well as the names of her states and capital.
You will have a better understanding of the names of Nigeria’s 36 states, as well as its capital and slogan, after you have finished reading this page. You will also find out the year when each of Nigeria’s states came into existence.
Nigerian 36 States and Capital and Their Slogans With Current Governors
S. No | State | Capital | Slogan | Current Governor |
01 | Abia State | Umuahia | God’s Own State | Alex Otti |
02 | Adamawa State | Yola | Land of Beauty | Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri |
03 | Akwa Ibom State | Uyo | Land of Promise | Umo Eno |
04 | Anambra State | Awka | Light of the Nation | Charles Soludo |
05 | Bauchi State | Bauchi | Pearl of Tourism | Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed |
06 | Bayelsa State | Yenagoa | Glory of all lands | Douye Diri |
07 | Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia | Makurdi | Food Basket of the Nation | Samuel Ortom |
08 | Borno State | Maiduguri | Home of Peace | Babagana Umara Zulum |
09 | Cross River State | Calabar | The People’s Paradise | Bassey Otu |
10 | Delta State | Asaba | The Big Heart | Sheriff Oborevwori |
11 | Ebonyi State | Abakaliki | Salt of the Nation | Francis Nwifuru |
12 | Edo State | Benin City | Heart Beat of Nigeria | Godwin Obaseki |
13 | Ekiti State | Ado – Ekiti | Land of Honour and Integrity | Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji |
14 | Enugu State | Enugu | Coal City State | Peter Mbah |
15 | Gombe State | Gombe | Jewel in the Savannah | Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya |
16 | Imo State | Owerri | Eastern Heartland | Hope Odidika Uzodinma |
17 | Jigawa State | Dutse | The New World | Umar Namadi |
18 | Kaduna State | Kaduna | Centre of Learning | Uba Sani |
19 | Kano State | Kano | Centre of Commerce | Abba Yusuf |
20 | Katsina State | Katsina | Home of Hospitality | Dikko Radda |
21 | Kebbi State | Birnin Kebbi | Land of Equity | Nasir Idris |
22 | Kogi State | Lokoja | The Confluence State | Yahaya Adoza Bello |
23 | Kwara State | Ilorin | State of Harmony | Abdul Rahman Abdul Razaq |
24 | Lagos State | Ikeja | Centre of Excellence | Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu |
25 | Nasarawa State | Lafia | Home of Solid Minerals | Abdullahi Sule |
26 | Niger State | Minna | The Power State | Umar Bago |
27 | Ogun State | Abeokuta | Gateway State | Dapo Abiodun |
28 | Ondo State | Akure | Sunshine State | Rotimi Akeredolu |
29 | Osun State | Oshogbo | The State of the Living Spring | Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke |
30 | Oyo State | Ibadan | Pace Setter State | Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde |
31 | Plateau State | Jos | Home of Peace and Tourism | Caleb Mutfwang |
32 | Rivers State | Port Harcourt | Treasure Base of the Nation | Siminalayi Fubara |
33 | Sokoto State | Sokoto | Seat of the Caliphate | Ahmad Aliyu |
34 | Taraba State | Jalingo | Nature’s Gift to the Nation | Kefas Agbu |
35 | Yobe State | Damaturu | Pride of the Sahel | Mai Mala Buni |
36 | Zamfara State | Gusau | Farming is Our Pride | Dauda Lawal |
Did You Know?: The elected governors in the march 18, 2023 governorship elections comprises 18 newcomers and 10 returning members. Eight states – Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo, and Osun – were excluded from the transformative events. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will hold off-cycle elections at different periods over the upcoming three years for these states to establish their respective governors.
Related: Top 10 Richest States in Nigeria
Nigerian 36 States and Capital and Their slogans (summary)
Nigeria has more than 200 million people, which is about the same as Brazil’s population. Areas that make up the Nigerian 36 states and capital were all made at different times, but not always in the same order.
In alphabetical order, here are the 36 states and their capital cities:
- Abia (Umuahia)
- Adamawa (Yola)
- Akwa Ibom (Uyo)
- Anambra (Awka)
- Bauchi (Bauchi)
- Bayelsa (Yenagoa)
- Benue (Makurdi)
- Borno (Maiduguri)
- Cross River (Calabar)
- Delta (Asaba)
- Ebonyi (Abakaliki)
- Edo (Benin City)
- Ekiti (Ado-Ekiti)
- Enugu (Enugu)
- Gombe (Gombe)
- Imo (Owerri)
- Jigawa (Dutse)
- Kaduna (Kaduna)
- Kano (Kano)
- Katsina (Katsina)
- Kebbi (Birnin Kebbi)
- Kogi (Lokoja)
- Kwara (Ilorin)
- Lagos (Ikeja)
- Nasarawa (Lafia)
- Niger (Minna)
- Ogun (Abeokuta)
- Ondo (Akure)
- Osun (Osogbo)
- Oyo (Ibadan)
- Plateau (Jos)
- Rivers (Port Harcourt)
- Sokoto (Sokoto)
- Taraba (Jalingo)
- Yobe (Damaturu)
- Zamfara (Guasau).
Abuja has been the capital of Nigeria since 1991, but prior to that, there have been other official and unofficial capitals.
There’s no doubt that each state has the qualities written in its motto. So, if you’re Nigerian, tell us which state you’re from.
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