36 States and Capitals in Nigeria (Slogans & Governors)

Nigeria is a large nation made up of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Every state has a capital city, a slogan and a governor who is in charge of the administration of its citizens.

This post provides the most up-to-date 2025 reference for all 36 Nigerian states and capitals, together with information on their geopolitical zones, governors, and catchphrases.

List of 36 States, Capitals, Slogans & Governors (2025 Update)

Nigeria’s states are alphabetically listed below to make it easier to find exactly what you need. This is the most current civic update for 2025.

State	Capital	Slogan	Governor (2025)	Geopolitical Zone
Abia	Umuahia	God’s Own State	Alex Otti	South East
Adamawa	Yola	Land of Beauty	Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri	North East
Akwa Ibom	Uyo	Land of Promise	Umo Eno	South South
Anambra	Awka	Light of the Nation	Charles Soludo	South East
Bauchi	Bauchi	Pearl of Tourism	Bala Muhammad	North East
Bayelsa	Yenagoa	Glory of All Lands	Douye Diri	South South
Benue	Markudi	Food Basket of the Nation	Hyacinth Alia	North Central
Borno	Maiduguri	Home of Peace	Babagana Zulum	North East
Cross River	Calabar	The People’s Paradise	Bassey Otu	South South
Delta	Asaba	The Big Heart	Sheriff Oborevwori	South South
Ebonyi	Abakiliki	Salt of the Nation	Francis Nwifuru	South East
Edo	Benin City	Heartbeat of The Nation	Godwin Obaseki	South South
Ekiti	Ado-Ekiti	Land of Honour and Integrity	Biodun Oyebanji	South West
Enugu	Enugu	Coal City State	Peter Mbah	South East
FCT	Abuja	Federal Capital City	Nyesom Wike (Minister)	North Central
Gombe	Gombe	Jewel of the Savannah	Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya	North East
Imo	Owerri	Eastern Heartland	Hope Uzodinma	South East
Jigawa	Duste	The New World	Umar Namadi	North West
Kaduna	Kaduna	The Centre of Learning	Uba Sani	North West
Kano	Kano	Centre of Commerce	Abba Kabir Yusuf	North West
Katsina	Katsina	Home of Hospitality	Dikko Umaru Radda	North West
Kebbi	Birnin Kebbi	Land of Equity	Nasir Idris	North West
Kogi	Lokoja	The Confluence State	Ahmed Usman Ododo	North Central
Kwara	Ilorin	State of Harmony	Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq	North Central
Lagos	Ikeja	Centre of Excellence	Babajide Sanwo-Olu	South West
Nassarawa	Lafia	Home of Solid Minerals	Abdullahi Sule	North Central
Niger	Minna	The Power State	Mohammed Umar Bago	North Central
Ogun	Abeokuta	Gateway State	Dapo Abiodun	South West
Ondo	Akure	Sunshine State	Lucky Aiyedatiwa	South West
Osun	Osogbo	Land of Virtue	Ademola Adeleke	South West
Oyo	Ibadan	Pace Setter State	Seyi Makinde	South West
Plateau	Jos	Home of Peace and Tourism	Caleb Mutfwang	North Central
Rivers	Port Harcourt	Treasure Base of the Nation	Siminalayi Fubara	South South
Sokoto	Sokoto	Seat of the Caliphate	Ahmad Aliyu	North West
Taraba	Jalingo	Nature’s Gift to the Nation	Agbu Kefas	North East
Yobe	Damaturu	Pride of the Sahel	Mai Mala Buni	North East
Zamfara	Gusau	Farming is Our Pride	Dadua Lawal	North West

Overview of Nigeria’s States and Capitals

Nigeria’s form of government is federal, and power is split between the central government in the federal capital, Abuja, and individual states. Each state has its own governor, legislature and local government system and can act independently. 

To be able to make sense of this diversity, Nigeria is further classified into six geopolitical zones:

North Central Zone

• This region is located in Nigeria and is commonly known as the Middle Belt. It houses Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the FCT.
• The zone has a mixture of ethnic communities and has been referred to as a melting pot of Nigeria. The other people that reside here are the Tiv, Idoma, Nupe, Gwari and Berom, among many others.
• Economy: Agriculture prevails – Benue is actually referred to as the Food Basket of the Nation as it is a farming state where yams, oranges and grains are grown in large amounts. The hydropower source in Niger is abundant, owing to the Kainji Dam and the Shiroro Dam.
• Politics: The North Central is believed to have been the balancing factor in the politics of Nigeria due to its central position since it lies between the North and the South.

North East Zone

• Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe.
• Cultural Identity: This area has Kanuri, Fulani, and smaller groups of different cultures. It is a culturally and historically rich area, even though it is among the least developed ones.
• Economy: The economy is based on agriculture and livestock; cattle rearing is also of great importance in the economy. Taraba is referred to as the Gift of Nature to the Nation due to the large presence of mountains, rivers, and fertile lands.
• Challenges: Insecurity has been an issue in the zone in recent years because of insurgency, but states such as Gombe and Bauchi are rapidly becoming centres of trade and education.

North West Zone

• It is the most densely populated area in Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.
• The Hausa-Fulani centre of culture and Islamic scholarship. Sokoto, the seat of the Caliphate, is still a spiritual centre.
• Economy: Kano is the economic giant, with its markets, textiles and industries. The region has a long history of agriculture, particularly of groundnuts.
• Politics: zone is usually a decisive factor in the national elections in Nigeria due to the large number of voters.

South East Zone

• This area is made up of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
• The Igbo people are known to have an entrepreneurial spirit and strength. The area has an excellent heritage and has a high diaspora population all over the world.
• Economy: Business is the king. The South East boasts of trade, with Aba in Abia State producing artisanship and Onitsha in Anambra with its huge markets.
• Politics: The region still seeks to have better representation and development in the federation.

South South Zone

• Commonly referred to as Nigeria’s treasure base, made up of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers.
• Cultural Identity: This is the oil-deprived Niger Delta, yet it’s not just oil; the area is a cultural giant, with a variety of languages and cultures. Edo, when discussing an example, is known to have a heritage of the Benin Kingdom.
• Economy: It is mainly oil and gas-based, particularly in Rivers and Bayelsa, although agriculture (palm oil, cassava) and tourism (Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross River) are also doing well.
• Politics: South South is an economic powerhouse in Nigeria because of its petroleum resources, and hence a centre of governance.

South West Zone

• South West consists of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo.
• Cultural Identity: This zone is home to the Yoruba people who are very much rooted in culture, language, and history. The case of Ibadan, where the city used to be the largest in West Africa, is an example.
• Economy: Lagos is the commercial capital of Nigeria, which not only drives the South West but also the whole country. Ogun is an industrial centre, and Ondo is a cocoa producer.
• Politics: South West has been the birthplace of great national leaders, and thus it is a political heavyweight.

These six zones combined point to the diversity of Nigeria. The identity of Nigeria is pegged on the individuality of its states: the South South is concerned with its oil wealth, the South West is concerned with its commercial nature, the North Central is concerned with its extensive agricultural lands, and the North East is concerned with its resources.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja

Abuja is not an elected state. Rather, it is directly controlled by a Minister of the Federal Capital Territory who is appointed by the President. The concept behind having Abuja as the capital originated in the 1970s, as the leaders of Nigeria desired a more central venue to replace Lagos. Lagos was a congested area and politically bound to a single region. In the centre of the country was Abuja, which was deemed a neutral ground.

Its creation started in the 1980s, and in 1991, Abuja was formally declared the capital of Nigeria. It is now a symbol of unity, which is the residence of the Presidential Villa (Aso Rock) and the National Assembly, the Supreme Court, and the majority of the embassies. Abuja is not only special when it comes to politics, but it is also a planned city. It is unique among other urban centres in Nigeria because of wide roads, organised districts and natural beauty (such as the Aso Rock and Zuma Rock).

Fun Facts About Nigerian States

In addition to slogans and governance, the Nigerian states can be characterised by the most interesting details that make the map alive. The following highlights some of the states and capitals of Nigeria:

• The smallest area is Lagos State because it boasts the largest population, which is estimated at more than 20 million people. It is also the West African financial centre.
• Bayelsa State is a relatively young and least populated state, which was established out of Rivers State in 1996. 
• One of the oldest civilisations in Africa is Kano State, the city walls of which were built in the 10th century. Its Kurmi market is still a large trading centre.
• Jos, Plateau State, is the home of peace and tourism due to its temperate climate, hills and waterfalls that keep tourists busy throughout the year.
• Benue State is a state that cultivates more than 70 per cent of all yams in Nigeria, hence its designation as the Food Basket of the Nation.
• Ogun State is the place where the first university in Nigeria was located, the University of Ibadan (Prior to the division of Oyo) and most of the industrial factories in the country.
• Anambra State is the home of one of the biggest markets in West Africa (Onitsha Main Market), and it is known as the entrepreneurial heartbeat of Nigeria.
• Port Harcourt is frequently referred to as the oil capital of Nigeria. It is also a cultural, entertainment, and arts centre in the South South.
• Sokoto State, the seat of the Caliphate, is a spiritual base of Muslims. Its history has deep foundations in the 19th-century Caliphate of Sokoto.

All these facts indicate that besides politics, states in Nigeria are living, breathing organisations with identities beyond names and capitals.

Conclusion

Every state has its own tale: the economically vibrant city of Lagos, the coal-producing land of Enugu, the ancient city of trade of Kano, and the tourist mecca of Cross River. 

These are the 36 states and capitals in Nigeria, with their slogans, governors, and zones. If you are planning to study, discover the diversity of Nigeria, or just refresh your knowledge, this guide is all you need.

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