There are 36 states in Nigeria, and each is divided into Local Government Areas. Some states have more LGAs because of their size and population. So, which state has the highest Local Government Areas in Nigeria? Kano State leads with 44 LGAs. Keep reading to see the list of local governments in Nigeria and how other states rank.

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Key takeaways
- Nigeria has 36 states and 774 Local Government Areas.
- Kano State has the highest number of LGAs (44).
- The Federal Capital Territory has the lowest, with 6 LGAs.
Which state has the highest Local Government Areas in Nigeria?
The state with the highest local governments in Nigeria is Kano State. It has forty-four LGAs. Each LGA in Nigeria is further divided into wards.
Local Government Areas in Kano State
There are forty-four (44) Local Government Areas in Kano State. They include:
- Ajingi Local Government Area
- Albasu Local Government Area
- Bagwai Local Government Area
- Bebeji Local Government Area
- Bichi Local Government Area
- Bunkure Local Government Area
- Dala Local Government Area
- Dambatta Local Government Area
- Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area
- Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area
- Doguwa Local Government Area
- Fagge Local Government Area – Waje
- Gabasawa Local Government Area
- Garko Local Government Area
- Garun Mallam Local Government Area
- Gaya Local Government Area
- Gezawa Local Government Area
- Gwale Local Government Area
- Gwarzo Local Government Area
- Kabo Local Government Area
- Kano Municipal Local Government Area
- Karaye Local Government Area
- Kibiya Local Government Area
- Kiru Local Government Area
- Kumbtso Local Government Area
- Kunchi Local Government Area
- Kura Local Government Area
- Madobi Local Government Area
- Makoda Local Government Area
- Minjibir Local Government Area
- Nassarawa Local Government Area
- Rano Local Government Area
- Rimin Gado Local Government Area
- Rogo Local Government Area
- Shanono Local Government Area
- Sumaila Local Government Area
- Takai Local Government Area
- Tarauni Local Government Area
- Tofa Local Government Area
- Tsanyawa Local Government Area
- Tudun Wada Local Government Area
- Ungogo Local Government Area
- Warawa Local Government Area
- Wudil Local Government Area
Basic facts about Kano State

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Below are some interesting facts about Kano State.
- It is located in the northern region of the country.
- It is the most populous state in Nigeria.
- The Hausa and Fulani make up the majority of the population.
- It was created on May 27, 1967.
Top 10 states with the highest local government in Nigeria
The 36 states and their local governments are spread across Nigeria, but some states have more LGAs than others. This list of Nigerian states and their local governments highlights the top 10 states with the highest local governments in the country.
- Kano State (44)
- Lagos State (20)
- Katsina State (34)
- Oyo State (33)
- Kaduna State (23)
- Bauchi State (20)
- Jigawa State (27)
- Benue State (23)
- Sokoto State (23)
- Borno State (27)
Local governments distribution across states
Below are the 36 states and their local governments in Nigeria. These tables give an overview of how the 774 local government areas are distributed across the country. This helps in the management of various administrative tasks and the mapping of natural resources.
The North-West zones
The table below shows the states in the North-West zone and their LGAs.
States | Number of LGAs |
Kano | 44 |
Katsina | 34 |
Jigawa | 27 |
Kaduna | 23 |
Sokoto | 23 |
Kebbi | 21 |
Zamfara | 14 |
The South-West zones
The table below shows the states in the South-West zone and their LGAs.
State | Number of LGAs |
Oyo | 33 |
Osun | 30 |
Lagos | 20 |
Ogun | 20 |
Ondo | 18 |
Ekiti | 16 |
The South-South zones
The table below shows the states in the South-South zone and their LGAs.
State | Number of LGAs |
Akwa Ibom | 31 |
Delta | 25 |
Rivers | 23 |
Cross River | 18 |
Edo | 18 |
Bayelsa | 8 |
The North-Central zones
The table below shows the states in the North-Central zone and their LGAs.
States | Number of LGAs |
Niger | 25 |
Benue | 23 |
Kogi | 21 |
Kwara | 16 |
Plateau | 17 |
Nasarawa | 13 |
FCT | 6 |
The North-East zones
The table below shows the states in the North-East zone and their LGAs.
States | Number of LGAs |
Borno | 27 |
Adamawa | 21 |
Bauchi | 20 |
Yobe | 17 |
Taraba | 16 |
Gombe | 11 |
The South-East zones
The table below shows the states in the South-East zone and their LGAs.
States | Number of LGAs |
Imo | 27 |
Anambra | 21 |
Abia | 17 |
Enugu | 17 |
Ebonyi | 13 |
Geopolitical zones
The table below shows the Geopolitical zones and the number of LGAs.
Geopolitical zones | Number of LGAs |
North-West | 186 |
South-West | 137 |
South-South | 123 |
North-Central | 121 |
North-East | 112 |
South-East | 95 |
How many local governments are in Nigeria?
Nigeria has 774 Local Government Areas. Each LGA is managed by a local government council. The council is led by a chairman and supported by elected councillors. Each LGA is divided into between ten and twenty wards. This structure is reflected in any list of states and local governments in Nigeria.
Which LGA is the smallest in Nigeria?
Bakassi is the smallest LGA, with a population of 31,641 as of the 2006 census. It is one of the richest gulfs in the country. It is primarily inhabited by the Oron people and people from Nigeria’s Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.

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What are the 4 levels of local government?
The four levels of LGAs are municipalities, regional municipalities, rural communities, and local service districts. These levels guide administration across the country. They also link to resources that list the 774 local governments and their headquarters in Nigeria.

Source: UGC
Which state in Nigeria has the lowest local government areas?
The Federal Capital Territory, also known as FCT, has the lowest LGAs (6), Abaji, Abuja, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali. It has a landmass of approximately 7,315 per square kilometre.
Which state in Nigeria has the most local governments?
Kano State has the most local governments in Nigeria. It has 44 Local Government Areas, the highest of all the 36 states.
Which state has 16 local governments in Nigeria?
Ekiti State has 16 Local Government Areas. It is the only state in Nigeria with that exact number.
Which state generates the most money in Nigeria?

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Lagos State remains the top state in Nigeria in terms of internally generated revenue (IGR). In 2023, Lagos generated about ₦815.86 billion, far outpacing all other states.
What is the poorest state in Nigeria?
Based on recent data, Sokoto State is widely regarded as the poorest state in Nigeria. It has the highest poverty rate of about 87.73%.
Which state has the highest Local Government Areas in Nigeria? Kano State leads with 44 LGAs. The state is home to many large markets, like Kurmi Market and Kantin Kwari Market. These markets often specialise in specific products, such as textiles or grains.
Legit.ng published an article about Geopolitical zones in Nigeria and their states. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is divided into six regions, commonly referred to as geopolitical zones. These administrative regions were created during General Sani Abacha’s regime.
The six geopolitical zones guide the distribution of economic, educational, and political resources in Nigeria. Professor Sati Umaru Fwatshak of the University of Jos explains their impact on power and governance at the federal and regional levels.
Source: Legit.ng