Niger | |
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State | |
Gurara Falls, a waterfall along the Gurara River in Niger State
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Nickname(s): The Power State | |
Location of Niger State in Nigeria |
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Coordinates: 10°00′N 6°00′E / 10.000°N 6.000°ECoordinates: 10°00′N 6°00′E / 10.000°N 6.000°E | |
Country | Nigeria |
Date created | 3 February 1976 |
Capital | Minna |
Government | |
• Governor (List) |
Abubakar Sani Bello (APC) |
Area | |
• Total | 76,363 km2 (29,484 sq mi) |
Area rank | 1st of 36 |
Population (2006) | |
• Total | 3,950,249 |
• Rank | 18th of 36 |
• Density | 52/km2 (130/sq mi) |
GDP (PPP) | |
• Year | 2007 |
• Total | $6.00 billion |
• Per capita | $1,480 |
Time zone | WAT (UTC+01) |
ISO 3166 code | NG-NI |
Website | nigerstate.gov.ng |
Niger or Niger State is a state in Central Nigeria and the largest state in the country. The state capital is Minna, and other major cities are Bida, Kontagora, and Suleja. It was formed in 1976 when the then North-Western State was into Niger State and Sokoto State. It is home to Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar, two of Nigeria's former military rulers. The Nupe, Gbagyi, Kamuku, Kambari, Dukawa and Koro form the majority of numerous indigenous tribes of Niger State.
The state is named after the River Niger. Two of Nigeria's major hydroelectric power stations, the Kainji Dam and the Shiroro Dam, are located in Niger State, The famous Gurara Falls is in Niger State, and Gurara Local Government Area is named after the Gurara River, on whose course the fall is situated. Also situated there is Kainji National Park, the largest National Park of Nigeria, which contains Kainji Lake, the Borgu Game Reserve and the Zugurma Game Reserve.
Like the majority of Nigerian states, it is governed by a Governor and a House of Assembly. Under the administration of Abdulkadir Kure on 4 May 2000, the state has adopted sharia law as the code of law.
Niger State consists of twenty-five (25) Local Government Areas. They are: