The Provinces of Nigeria were administrative divisions in Nigeria, used from 1900 to 1967 during Colonial Nigeria and shortly after independence. They underwent numerous alterations throughout their history. These provinces were divided into divisions, some of which were further subdivided into native authorities. Northern Nigeria and Southern Nigeria were also known as the Northern Provinces and Southern Provinces, respectively.
Currently, Nigeria is a federation of 36 states, each a semi-autonomous political unit sharing power with the federal government, as defined by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In addition to the states, there is the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where the capital city of Abuja is located. The FCT is not a state but a territory of the federal government, administered by a minister. Each state is further divided into local government areas (LGAs), with 774 local governments in Nigeria.
Under the Nigerian Constitution, the 36 states have substantial autonomy but are not sovereign entities; ultimate authority rests with the federal government.
The first use of provinces was in Northern Nigeria after Britain took over administration of the area from the Royal Niger Company in 1900. In 1903 six more provinces were added; five following the Sokoto-Kano campaign, and also Gwandu province, making a total of 17. The number of provinces was reduced to 13 in 1911, and 12 after World War I. In 1926 Adamawa and Plateau became new provinces.
At the time of independence in 1960, Nigeria was a federal state of three regions: Northern, Western, and Eastern. In 1967, the regions were replaced by 12 states by military decree. From 1967 to 1970, the Eastern Region attempted to secede as a nation called Biafra during the Nigerian civil war.
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At the state level, the legislature is unicameral, with the number of members equal to three times the number of legislators in the Federal House of Representatives. The head of the executive at the state level is the governor, who can appoint people to the state executive council, subject to the advice and consent of the state house of assembly (legislature). The Judiciary is one of the co-equal arms of the state government concerned with the interpretation of the laws of the state government.
Below is a list of actions that can be performed on the List of States in Nigeria:
- Organizes the list items in alphabetical order, starting with letters from A and progressing to Z, ensuring that all entries are sorted in ascending sequence based on their initial characters.
- Sorts the list items in reverse alphabetical order, arranging them from Z to A.
- Shuffles the list items into a completely random order each time it is selected, ensuring that the sequence of the items changes dynamically with every interaction.
- Displays the list as a numbered list (ordered list), where each item is automatically prefixed with a sequential number starting from 1.
- Formats the list as a bulleted (unordered) list, where each item is displayed on a new line and preceded by a standard bullet point (●).
- Transforms the list into an interactive dropdown menu, enabling users to view all available options in a compact format and select one item at a time.
- Displays the list as a single line of text, where each item is separated by a comma. If you prefer a different separator, you can easily customize it using the gear icon. This allows you to choose from various delimiters, such as semicolons, pipes (|), spaces, or any other character that suits your needs.
The 'Copy' feature allows users to quickly copy the list in their preferred format. The 'Download' feature enables users to save the list in various formats.
Here is a table summarizing the key changes in Nigeria's administrative divisions:
| Year | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | Establishment of Provinces | Britain takes over administration of Northern Nigeria from the Royal Niger Company. |
| 1903 | Expansion of Provinces | Six new provinces added in Northern Nigeria, totaling 17. |
| 1911 | Reduction of Provinces | Number of provinces reduced to 13. |
| Post-WWI | Further Reduction | Number of provinces reduced to 12. |
| 1926 | New Provinces Created | Adamawa and Plateau become new provinces. |
| 1967 | Regions Replaced by States | The existing regions were replaced by 12 states via military decree. |
Nigeria became independent on 1960-10-01.
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Nigerians have been discussing creating new states.
During this period, there were 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The Federal Capital Territory was established in 1991. In 1987 two new states were established, followed by another nine in 1991, bringing the total to 30.
How the 36 States of Nigeria were Created (All the States were Created by the Military)
The Colony and Protectorate of Lagos was a separate entity at that time.
Nigerians have been discussing creating new states.
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