Location
| History | Agriculture
| Mineral | Education
| Tourism | People
| Local Government Areas | Links
| Contact
| Capital: |
Minna |
| Area: |
76,363
km˛ |
| Population: |
4,082,558
(2005 est.) |
| Language: |
Hausa |
| Governor: |
Babangida
Aliyu (PDP) |
| ISO
3166-2: |
NG-NI |
| Date
Created: |
3
February 1976 |
| Population
Rank: |
Ranked
18th |
|
 |
Niger
State shares boundaries with Kaduna and Plateau States in the
East and South-East respectively as well as with Sokoto in the
North and Kwara State in the East.
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The areas
making up Niger State today comprised the old Nupe and Kontogora
Kingdos, Abuja (now Suleja) with link to the famous kingdom
of Zauzau and a host of other political entities. The old
Nupe Kingdom today has been broken administratively into the
Bida Emirate (encompassing Gboko and Lavun Local Government
areas) and the Agaie and Lapai emirates.
Similarly,
old Kontagora now comprises Kontagora emirates within which
there are the chiefdom of Wushish, the territories of Sarkin
Bauchi and the Chiefdom of Kagara, all administratively grouped
into the Mariga, Magama and Rafi Local Governments.
The State
was excised from the defunct North-Western State in February
1976 and became a full-fledged State in the Federation in
April of the same year.
There
are ten Local Government Areas in the State, viz: Chanchaga,
Lapai, Suleja, Shiroro, Rafi, Lavun, Mariga, Magama, Agaie
annd Gbako.
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Generally,
agricultural activities form the mainstay of the people's economy
and engage directly or indirectly more than 80 percent of the
population.
The Gwari, Koro, Kadara and Kambari are noted for yam and
guinea corn production, while the Nupe are the major rice
producers. The Hausa and Fulani in Mariga Local Government
area are well-known in the field of animal husbandry
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There is also the presence of other minerals like limestone,
glass sands, chalk, copper etc.
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The State is also educationally inclined having established
over 1,165 primary schools, 250 secondary schools and a number
of vocational training centers. There are also about 15 tertiary,
institutions which include Federal College of Education, Kontagora,
the Federal Polytechnic at Bida and the Federal University
of Technology at Minna. Others include the state owned Technical
Teachers Training Colleges, State College of Education and
many others
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Gurara Falls, Gurara LGA Natural/Physical * Zuma Rock, Near
Suleija Natural/Physical * Kainji Lake National Park Wildlife/Eco-Tourism
* Brass/Glass Works, Bida Arts & Crafts/ Souvenirs * Shirro
Dam Tourist Resort Natural/Man-made * Mayanka Water Falls
Natural
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The three
principal ethnic groups of the State are the Nupe, the Gwari
and the Hausa. Other groups include the Koro, the Kadara,
the Kambari, the Kamuku, the Pangu, the Bassa, the Bauchi,
the Fulani, the Dukawa, the Gade, the Godara, the Ganagana,
the Dukawa, the Mauchi, the Ayadi, the Ingwai, the Dibo, the
Kadanda the Gulengi, the Abishiwa and the Shigini.
Most
of the groups can be said to have evolved and instituted a
system of political leadership with either a king or chief
surrounded by other title holders.
The Nupe
are found in Gboko, Lavun, Lapai, Agaie and parts of Mariga,
while the Gwari, Kadara and Koro occupy Suleja, Chanchaga
and Shiroro. The Kambari and Kamuku are found in Mariga, Magama
and Rafi Local Government.
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Agaie,
Agwara, Bida, Borgu, Bosso, Chanchaga, Edati, Gbako, Gurara,
Katcha, Kontagora, Lapai, Lavun, Magama, Mariga, Mashegu,
Mokwa, Muya, Pailoro, Rafi, Rijau, Shiroro, Suleja, Tafa,
Wushishi.
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Schools
on The Web:
FGGC New-Bussa
Federal Government Girls
College, Bida
Suleja
Academy, Suleja
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State
Liason Office:
Plot 1230B, Ahmadu Bello Way,
Victoria Island, Lagos.
Tel: 01-617668.
ABUJA: Block 4, Zone 4, Sheraton Junction,
PMB 207 Bengazi Street Abuja
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