Niger State
Niger State of Nigeria
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Niger State | ||
Location | ||
| ||
Statistics | ||
| | |
76,363 km² | ||
Population | Ranked 18th | |
| | |
Not to be confused with Niger.
Niger State is a state in the western part of 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 bifurcated into Niger State and Sokoto State.
The state is named for the River Niger. Two of Nigeria's major hydroelectric power stations, the Kainji Dam and the Shiroro Dam, are located in Niger State; also situated there is Kainji National Park, the largest National Park of Nigeria, which contains Kainji Lake.
Like the majority of Nigerian states, it is governed by a Governor and a House of Assembly. Under the administration of Abdulahi Kure on January 13, 2000, the state has adopted sharia law as the code of law, even though the population of the state has been historically evenly divided between Muslims and Christians.
[edit] Administrative subdivisions
Niger State is divided into 25 Local Government Areas
§ Agaie § Agawara § Bida § Borgu § Bosso | § Edati § Gbako § Gurara § Katcha | § Lapai § Lavun § Magama § Mariga | § Mashegu § Mokwa § Moya § Paikoro § Rafi | § Rijau § Shiroro § Suleja § Tafa § Wushishi |
Gurara Falls, a waterfall along the Gurara River in Niger State.