Kano leads all Nigerian states with 44 LGAs; FCT, Bayelsa, and Nasarawa have the fewest with 6, 8, and 13 respectively

Key Takeaways

Kano State has the highest number of LGAs in Nigeria, with 44, far exceeding the national average of 21 LGAs per state.
Bayelsa, Nasarawa, and the FCT have the fewest LGAs, recording 8, 13, and 6 respectively, despite varying population sizes and landmass.
Northern states dominate the upper tier of the LGA count, with Katsina (34), Oyo (33), and Jigawa (27) all ranking among the top.
Southern states tend to have fewer LGAs, with Lagos and Ogun, two highly urbanised states, having just 20 LGAs each, hinting at a denser governance structure per area.

Nigeria’s 774 LGAs are unevenly distributed across the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Kano stands out at the top with 44 LGAs, reflecting its deep administrative segmentation. In contrast, FCT, Bayelsa, and Nasarawa fall at the bottom with 6, 8, and 13 LGAs respectively—despite their distinct regional roles.

There’s a clear pattern: states in the North generally have more LGAs, which may be influenced by landmass, historical factors, and the need for closer local governance. Southern states, particularly in the South West and South South, tend to have fewer LGAs, even in densely populated areas like Lagos. This distribution paints a nuanced picture of Nigeria’s administrative framework, revealing how governance structures differ across the country.

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Period:

2025

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