Location

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.

History

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.

Agriculture

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

Mineral Resources

There is also the presence of other minerals like limestone, glass sands, chalk, copper etc.

Education

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

Tourism

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

People

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.

Local Government Areas

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.

Links

Schools on The Web:
FGGC New-Bussa
Federal Government Girls College, Bida
Suleja Academy, Suleja

Contact

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