Nigeria is one of the largest countries in West Africa. Spanning over nine hundred thousand square kilometers. It is the most populated country in all of Africa and among the top most populated countries in the world.
Nigeria shares borders with Chad, Niger, Benin, and Cameroon. Nigeria has 36 states and each state is further divided into local government areas that are led by a local government Chairman who is assisted by a Vice Chairman.
Kano state has a total of 44 local government areas making it the state with the most local government areas in Nigeria. While Bayelsa state has the least local government areas with only eight local government areas. Although the federal capital territory FCT has 6 local government areas.
Which Local Government Area is the Largest in Nigeria?
The largest local government area in Nigeria is Toro local government area. It is found in Bauchi state. This local government area is said to be the largest in all of the African continent. It covers a land area of 6,932.2 square kilometers, with a population of three hundred and fifty thousand people as of the 2006 population census. The local government area is divided into three major districts, the Toro, Jama’a, and Lame districts. The headquarters of the Toro local government is in Toro town.
The local government is filled with diverse ethnic groups like the Fulani, Hausa, duguza, kaiwari, and many others. However, the main language spoken by the people of Toro is the Fulfulde language.
Other local government areas in Bauchi state
- Bauchi
- Bogoro
- Giade
- Darazo
- Dass
- Ningi
- Shira
- Gamawa
- Itas Gadau
- Warji
- Katagum
- Missau
- Hira
- Toro
- TafawaBalewa
- Jama’are
- Zaki
- Alkaleri
- Dambam
- Kirfi
- Ganjuwa
The largest local government area in Nigeria in terms of population
In terms of population, the largest local government area in Nigeria is Alimosho local government in Lagos state, the most populated state in Nigeria, with over 8 million people living in it. This local government has over 1 million people living in it. The main ethnic group in Alimosho is Egbados and the main language among them is the Yoruba language. The people of Alimosho are mostly Christians and Muslims.
Other local government areas in Lagos state
- Shomolu
- Agege
- Alimosho
- Lagos Island
- Lagos Mainland
- Mushin
- Oshodi-Isolo
- Surulere
- Ikorodu
- Eti-Osa
- Ibeju-Lekki
- Epe
- Ojo
- Badagry
- Ikeja
- Kosofe
- Amuwo Odofin
- Ajeromi/Ifelodun
- Ifako/Ijaiye
- Apapa.
Top 20 most populated local government areas in Nigeria with their population
- Alimosho, Lagos state 1,319,571
- Abuja Municipal (Amac), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 776,298
- Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Lagos state 687,316
- Kosofe, Lagos state 682,772
- Mushin, Lagos state 631, 857
- Oshodi-Isolo, Lagos state 629, 061
- Ojo, Lagos state 609173
- Nasarawa, Nasarawa state 596,411
- Maiduguri, Borno state 540,016
- Ifo, Ogun state 539,170
- Port-Harcourt, Rivers state 538,558
- Ikorodu, Lagos state 527,917
- Ado-Odo/Ota, Ogun state 527,242
- Surulere, Lagos state 502,865
- Bauchi, Bauchi state 493,730
- Obia/Akpor, Rivers state 462,350
- Agege Lagos state 461,743
- Jos North, Plateau state 437,217
- Idemili North, Anambra state 431,005
- Igabi, Kaduna state 430,753
Which local government area is the smallest in Nigeria?
The smallest local government area in Nigeria is Bakassi, a local government area in Cross River state
The 36 states in Nigeria and the number of Local government areas in each state
- Abia, Umahia – {17}
- Adamawa, Yola – {21}
- Akwa ibom, Uyo – {31}
- Anambra, Akwa _(21)
- Bauchi, Bauchi _ (20)
- Bayelsa, Yenagoa – (8)
- Benue, Makurdi – (27)
- Borno, Maduguri – (18)
- Cross, River Calabar – (18)
- Delta, Asaba – (25)
- Ebonyi, Abakilike – (13)
- Edo, Benin city – (18)
- Ekiti, Ado-ekiti – (16)
- Enugu, Enugu – (17)
- Gombe, Gombe – (11)
- Imo, Owerri – (27)
- Jigawa, Dutse – (27)
- Kaduna, Kaduna – (23)
- Kano, Kano – (44)
- Katsina, Katsina – (34)
- Kebbi, Benin-Kebbi – (21)
- Kogi, Lokoja – (21)
- Kwara, Illorin – (16)
- Lagos, Ikeja – (20)
- Nasarawa, Lafia – (13)
- Niger, Minna – (25)
- Ogun, Abeokuta – (20)
- Ondo, Akure – (18)
- Osun, Oso-gbo – (20)
- Oyo, Ibadan – (30)
- Plateau, Jos – (33)
- Rivers, Port Harcourt – (17)
- Sokoto, Sokoto – (23)
- Taraba, Jalingo – (23)
- Yobe, Damature – (16)
- Zamfara, Gusau – (17)
- Federal Capital Territory – (6)