Nigeria is a big, indivisible and multi-cultural country, made up of six regions, otherwise referred to as geopolitical zones.
These administrative regions were created during General Sani Abacha’s regime for what the then government described as a factor for ease distribution of resources among the component units.
In this article, we bring you the six geopolitical zones and their states which form the basis for the distribution of economic, educational, and political resources among Nigerians. In other words, these zones were created for administrative purposes and to foster equitable development nationwide. The post will also help to educate Nigerians on the zone they belong and its relevance to the country.
Each geopolitical zone has several states and unique characteristics, and cultural diversity.
The six geopolitical zones in Nigeria and their states are:
- North-East region
- The North-West region
- North Central (Middle Belt)
- South East
- South South
- South West
- South South (The Niger Delta Region)
The Niger Delta region stretches across the Atlantic seaboard from the Bight of Bonny coast in the east to the Bight of Benin coast in the west. Geographically, this region occupies a mere 5% of the country’s landmass.
The Niger Delta is home to some of Nigeria’s largest oil and natural gas deposits. The zone has a population of 26 million, accounting for about 12% of the country’s population. The Greater Port Harcourt is the region’s largest metropolitan area, with other significant ones being Ikom Warri, Sapele, Ikot, and Ughelli. Here are the states in this region.
The states that made up the Niger Delta Region are:
- Edo
- Delta
- Cross River
- Bayelsa
- Akwa Ibom
- Rivers
- South West
The Yoruba people are made up of the South west zone. The zone is rated the largest ethnic group in the country’s southwest.
The region is also home to the incredibly populous cities of Ibadan and Lagos, making it one of the busiest zones in terms of economic activity.
The South-West region stretches along the Atlantic seaboard from the Niger Delta Zone in the east to the border with the Benin Republic in the west. The main ecological regions in this zone include the mangrove forests in the east and the south and the forest savanna in the northwest.
In the area of culture, much of the South-West region falls in the indigenous Yoruba land.
In addition, the South-West Zone is the second most populous of all Nigeria’s geopolitical zones with over40 million people, accounting for nearly 22% of the country’s population. The Lagos Metropolitan Area found in this zone is the world’s eighth-largest metropolitan area, with about 21 million people.
The states in this region include:
- Lagos
- Ekiti
- Ogun
- Ondo
- Osun
- Oyo
- South East
The South-East region is bounded by the Cross River to the east, the flat North Central to the north, the riverine Niger Delta to the south, and the river Niger to the west.
The main ecological regions include the forest-savanna mosaic in the north and the tropical forest to the south.
The region is made up of the Igbo people who additionally comprise the largest ethnic group in southeast Nigeria, amounting to about 90% of the region’s population. While this region is the smallest in terms of landmass, it is among the largest contributors to the country’s economy. The region has vast natural gas and oil reserves and a remarkably industrialised economy.
The states that fall within the South East zone are:
- Enugu
- Ebonyi
- Anambra
- Abia
- Imo
- North Central (Middle Belt)
The Middle Belt Zone stretches across the country’s width, from its border with Benin to where it borders Cameroon. The Middle Belt is also home to Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory. The region’s primary ecological zone is the Guinean forest-savanna mosaic, with a small western portion falling in the savanna ecoregion.
This zone has a vast area of landmass with large population. The North Central states or (Middle Belt) of Nigeria are:
- Kwara
- Kogi
- Federal Capital Territory
- Benue
- Plateau
- Niger
- Nasarawa
- The North East region: The region is widely acclaimed the largest geopolitical zones in Nigeria in terms of landmass or size and population. The region covers nearly a third of the entire Nigerian landmass. This zone has two major ecological regions, the tropical savanna in the west and the semi-desert ecological region in the east with Bauch and Maiduguri as the most populous cities.
States that made up the North East states in Nigeria include:
- Adamawa
- Bauchi
- Borno
- Gombe
- Taraba
- Yobe
- The North-West region: Is located in northwest Nigeria and one of the country’s largest geographical zones. The region comprises the savanna ecological region. Much of the region is the indigenous homeland of the Hausa people who make up the largest ethnic group in northwest Nigeria. The region also contributes hugely to the economy of Nigeria. The states are:
- Kano
- Kaduna
- Jigawa
- Zamfara
- Sokoto
- Kebbi
- Katsina
In conclusion, the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria have brought about convenience in the assessment and distribution of the natural resources among the federating units of the country. It has also reduced apathy, fear of social, economic and political domination among the various states in Nigeria.