Nigeria is a country made up of 36 states and one federal capital area. Each of the 36 states is a semi-autonomous political unit that shares powers with the federal government as defined by the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is Nigeria’s capital territory, and the capital city of Abuja is located within it. The FCT is not a state but is governed by elected representatives who report to the federal government. Each state is divided into local government districts. (LGAs).
In Nigeria, there are 774 local governments. The 36 states are co-equal but not paramount under the constitution because sovereignty is held by the federal government. The National Assembly can change the constitution, but each alteration must be adopted by two-thirds of the federation’s 36 states.
Presently, there are 36 states in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which shall be revealed below:
Nigerian State (Capital)
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Nigerian 36 States and Their Slogans
| States | Capital | Slogan |
| Abia State | Umuahia | God’s Own State |
| Adamawa State | Yola | Land of Beauty |
| Akwa Ibom State | Uyo | Land of Promise |
| Anambra State | Awka | Light of the Nation |
| Bauchi State | Bauchi | Pearl of Tourism |
| Bayelsa State | Yenagoa | Glory of all lands |
| Benue State | Makurdi | Food Basket of the Nation |
| Borno State | Maiduguri | Home of Peace |
| Cross River State | Calabar | The People’s Paradise |
| Delta State | Asaba | The Big Heart |
| Ebonyi State | Abakaliki | Salt of the Nation |
| Edo State | Benin City | Heart Beat of Nigeria |
| Ekiti State | Ado Ekiti | Land of Honour and Integrity |
| Enugu State | Enugu | Coal City State |
| Gombe State | Gombe | Jewel in the Savannah |
| Imo State | Owerri | Eastern Heartland |
| Jigawa State | Dutse | The New World |
| Kaduna State | Kaduna | Centre of Learning |
| Kano State | Kano | Centre of Commerce |
| Katsina State | Katsina | Home of Hospitality |
| Kebbi State | Birnin Kebbi | Land of Equity |
| Kogi State | Lokoja | The Confluence State |
| Kwara State | Ilorin | State of Harmony |
| Lagos State | Ikeja | Centre of Excellence |
| Nasarawa State | Lafia | Home of Solid Minerals |
| Niger State | Minna | The Power State |
| Ogun State | Abeokuta | Gateway State |
| Ondo State | Akure | Sunshine State |
| Osun State | Oshogbo | The State of the Living Spring |
| Oyo State | Ibadan | Pace Setter State |
| Plateau State | Jos | Home of Peace and Tourism |
| Rivers State | Port Harcourt | Treasure Base of the Nation |
| Sokoto State | Sokoto | Seat of the Caliphate |
| Taraba State | Jalingo | Nature’s Gift to the Nation |
| Yobe State | Damaturu | Pride of the Sahel |
| Zamfara State | Gusau | Farming is Our Pride |
State Creation in Nigeria
At independence on October 1, 1960, Nigeria has three (3) regions:
- Northern Region
- Western Region
- Eastern Region
From the Western Region, a second region, the Mid-Western Region, was formed in 1963.
The areas were then replaced by 12 states four years later, in 1967, by a military decree issued by then-Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, namely;
The then-head of state, General Murtala Mohammed, formed seven new states by military decree in 1976, bringing the total to 19, including the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja.
Abuja was formed from sections of Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, and Plateau States, with Niger State providing the majority of the landmass.
In 1987, the then-military President General Ibrahim Babangida established two new states, Akwa Ibom State from Cross River State and Kastina State from Kaduna State, increasing the total to 21.
Four years later, in 1991, General Babangida established nine (9) new states, bringing the total to thirty. Finally, in 1996, the then-military Head of State General Ibrahim Abacha established six (six) new states, bringing the total to 36, which continues to this day.