Do you know Nigerian geopolitical zones and their constituent states? This post covers the geopolitical zones in Nigeria and the states, cities, and ethnic groups that belong to each zone.

Let’s get right to it.



An Introduction
Nigeria is a country that lies on the west coast of Africa.

The country stretches from the outskirts of the Sahara Desert in the north to the Gulf of Guinea right on the Atlantic Ocean.


The West African country occupies a landmass of about 923,768 square kilometers and has two geographical characterizations in landforms; the lowlands and the highlands.

While the highlands mostly cover locations in the Southeast, Cross Rivers State, core north, and north-central, the lowlands cover areas in the northwest, northeast, and most places in the south.


Historical background of the Geopolitical Zones in Nigeria
Nigeria was formed with the amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates in 1914, by the then colonial government, headed by Lord Luggard.

The entity grew in all facets, while the nationals earnestly sought independence.

Mr. Bernard Bourdillon, the then Governor-General, started the concept of federalism in Nigeria, as he divided the country into three provinces in 1939.

In the year 1960, Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule.

By this time, Nigeria, as a Federal State had three regions; East, West, and North.

Following independence in 1960, there were a series of military coups, rulers, and administrations, and one of the most popular of the leaders is General Sani Abacha.

Nigeria was divided into six geopolitical zones in 1993, during the General Abacha-led military regime.

Geopolitical zones
The nation’s resources were to be allocated according to these zones with the quota system.

The zones are believed not to be entirely based on geographic positions; the individual states’ predominant ethnic groups were also considered.

The zones’ formation was also aimed at properly distributing the various states, based on their geopolitical divisions.


Nigeria Geopolitical Zones; States, Predominant Ethnic Groups and Resources
Nigeria is made up of thirty-six states and six geopolitical zones.


1) North Central Geopolitical Zone
This zone is also called the Middle Belt.

It is a region that stretches longitudinally through Nigeria’s central part, constituting a movement zone between its southern and northern parts.

This is one of the smallest of Nigeria’s geopolitical zones and is characterized by a diversity of ethnic groups, with none being the dominant group.

States in the North Central Geopolitical Zone
States in the Middle Belt include;

Kogi
Kwara
Benue
Niger
Plateau
Nassarawa


Popular Cities in the North Central Geopolitical Zone
The famous cities in this zone include;
Abuja
Jos
Lafia
Lokoja
Makurdi
Ilorin and
Minna.

Ethnic Groups in North Central (Middle Belt)
Though this region has no dominant ethnic group, it has different ethnic groups including;
Yoruba
Gbagy
Mangu
Berom
Tiv
Nupe
Igala
Idoma
Mada-Eggon, and
Gwandara.


2) North East Geopolitical Zone
Before the creation of the zones, there was an area called the North-Eastern State.

The area occupies almost one-third of the nation’s total landmass and has most of the mountains in Nigeria.


However, on the 3rd day of February 1976, the North-Eastern State was broken down to Borno, Gongola, and Bauchi states.

In the preceding years, there were more divisions, which then gave rise to the six states that currently make up the country’s north-east geopolitical zone.

States in the North-East
The states in North East are:

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