List of Nigerian traditional states explained

There are many traditional states in Nigeria.[1] A partial list follows.Although the traditional rulers[2] no longer officially have political power, they still have considerable status in Nigeria and the power of patronage.[3] Except where otherwise noted, names of traditional rulers are based on the World Statesmen.org list.[4]

State Region Ethnic group Capital Present ruler Accession date TitleNotes
AbujaNow the Suleja Emirate
South South Igbo Dr Greg Nnamdi Oputa 2024 Obi
Abureni Kingdom Southsouth Ogbia-Ijaw Iduma Collins Ebi Daniel 2008 Olila-Ebhugh
North Fulani 2010 Lamido
Adara Chiefdom Middle Belt 2007 Agom Adara
SouthwestYoruba Olusola Idris Osolo Otenibotemole II 2024 Formerly Oba of Ado
NorthNupe Yussuf Nuhu 2014 Etsu
South IgboBenjamin Ikechukwu Kiagborekuzi I 1979 Dein
Anyama Clan[5] [6] Southsouth Ogbia-Ijaw Anyama-Ogbia King Theophilus Omie Obanobhan Anyama Clan also known as Anyama District made up of 17 communities
Anyama-Ogbia KingdomSouthsouth Ogbia-Ijaw Anyama Town Vacant (held by the House of Okori, in the Obih-Adih Royal Dynasty of Anyama-Ogbia)Obenema Anyama-Ogbia is the headquarters of Anyama Clan
Southwest Yoruba 2005 Part of the confederation of Egbaland
SouthwestYoruba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi 2015 Deji
SoutheastIbibio 2008 Edidem
Southeast Igbo Uga J.C Oragwa 1994 Ikenga Regent
2016 Agwatyap or Agwam Atyap
Gunu/Yoruba De Wheno-Aholu-Menu-Toyi 11977 Oba Akran of Badagry
North Bade 2005 Mai Bade
Bajju Chiefdom Middle Belt 1995 Agwam Bajju
Bashar State North Basharawa Bashar Adamu Idris 1963 Sarki
North Gera/Fulani Rilwanu Adamu Jumba 2010 Emir
South Edo 2016
North Hausa 2019 Emir
North Nupe 2003 Etsu
North BuraMustapha Umar Mustapha II 2020 Emir
Birnin Gwari North Gwari/HausaBirnin Gwari Zubairu Jibrin Mai Gwari II 1993 Emir
South Ijaw Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekunle IX 1996 Amanayanabo Also called Okolo-Ama
Middle Belt Muhammad Haliru Dantoro Kitoro IV 2015 Emir Formed by merging Bussa and Kaiama
North Kanuri 2009 Shehu
South-southIjaw Amanayanabo Once part of Nembe
Bussa See Borgu
Bwari/Bwaya Kingdom Middle belt Gbagyi/Gwari Bwari/Bwaya Kingdom Ibrahim Yaro 2007 Esu
Calabar (Old) see Akwa Akpa
Calabar (New) see Kalabari Kingdom
North Kanuri Hashimi II El-Kanemi Emir
North Hausa/Fulani 2007 Emir
North Kanuri Mohammed Masta II Ibn Alamin El-Kanemi[7] 2010 Shehu Divided into Bama and Dikwa Emirates in 2010
Ebira Middle Belt Igbirra Shuaibu Mamman Lafiya[8] 1970 Ohimegye
Middle Belt Ebira Ahmed Tijane Anaje 2024
South East Nwabueze Annekwempaha Ezea II July 2009 Eze Edem The king's traditional salutation is Agaba-Idu. Formerly known as Christopher Nwabueze Ezea II, he took a regnal name on the anniversary of his decennial on the throne.
Edo See Benin
Eko see Lagos
Ekpeye KingdomSouthsouthIgboEkpeyeRobinson Okpoluwon Robinson CON1978Eze Ekpeyelogbo
Eri Southeast Igbo Chukwuemeka Eri, Ezeora XXXIV1976 Eze Eri The Custodian of the Sacred Ovo Eri
Fantswam (Kafanchan) Chiefdom Middle Belt Atyap 2019 Agwam Fantswam Renamed "Zikpak Chiefdom" by the Kaduna State governor, Nasir Elrufai
North Bole 2009 Moi Distinct from the Potiskum Emirate, also based in Potiskum
North Hausa/Fulani Sarkin Originally a Hausa city-state, conquered by the Fulani in the 19th century
North Fulani Abubakar Shehu Abubakar 2014 Modibo
Gujba Emirate North KanuriMai Muktar Ibn Ali Gangaram 2000 Emir Formerly part of the Kanem Bornu Empire
North Hausa/Fulani and Kanuri Ahmad Muhammad Sani dan Maina Muhammad 1981 Emir
North Hausa/Fulani Muhammadu Kabir Danbaba 1997 Emir or Sarkin Katsina The rulers of Katsina and Maradi also use the title "Sarkin Katsina"
North Hausa/Fulani Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar Emir
North Hausa/Fulani Adamu Abubakar Maje 2002 Emir
Ham (Jaba) Chiefdom 1974 Kpop Ham
Ibadan Kingdom Southwest Yoruba 2025
Idah see Igala
Southwest Yoruba Olufemi Olutoye 2014
Idoma Kingdom Middle Belt Elias Ikoyi Obekpa Och'Idoma IV Och'Idoma
Middle Belt Igala 2012 Attah
Igbomina Kingdom Middle Belt Yoruba Omu-Aran Abdulraheem Oladele Adeoti (Olomu Efon II)1993 Olomu Related to the Igbomina state in general
Southwest Yoruba
Southwest Yoruba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi2017 AkarigboSee also Ijebu Kingdom, List of rulers of Remo
Ijesaland see Ilesa
Ikale Kingdom Southwest Yoruba Ikoya Ikale George Faduyile, Adegun ll 1998 AbodiParamount Rulers of Ikale land Okitipupa, Irele and Odigbo local government
Ikateland Kingdom Southwest Yoruba 27 April 2010 Oba House of Kusenla
Southwest Yoruba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II 2015 Ooni One of the two ranking Yoruba monarchs
Ilesa Kingdom Southwest Yoruba Clement Adeyusi Haastrup 2024 Owa
Middle Belt Yoruba/Fulani Emir
Ipokia Kingdom Southwest Yoruba Raufu Oladeinde Adetunji Adeole Onigbaale III 1985 Onipokia
Iroko Kingdom Southwest Yoruba 2011 Oniroko
Southwest Yoruba Oyedeji Ajide Obalumo Related to the Isedo Clan (with its own Obalumo) of the Igbomina state of Oke Ila Orangun
Southwest Yoruba Isinkan Iralepo
Southwest Yoruba Itele, Ijebu-East Mufutau Adesanya Kasali Iboriaran I 2003 See also Ijebu Kingdom, Jones Adenola Ogunde Adeyoruwa II reigned until 1996
Itsekiri see Kingdom of Warri
Jajere Emirate North Fulani Hamza Mai Buba Ibn Isa Mashio 2000Emir, Mai, Lamido or Sarkin Jajere divided into Jajere & Ngelzarma Emirates
Jama'are Emirate North Hausa/Fulani Muhammadu Wabi IV dan Muhammadu Wabi 1975 Emir
Jema'a Emirate Middle Belt Hausa/Fulani Muhammadu dan Isa 1999 Emir
Middle belt Jacob Gyang Buba 2009 Gbong Gwom
Jukun see Wukari
Kagara Emirate
Kagoro		Hausa/Fulani
Atyap		Alhaji Ahmad Garba Gunna Attahiru II
Ufuwai Bonet		2021
2008		Emir
Agwam Agworok		A diarchy
Kaiama
Southsouth Ijaw Amanyanabo
North Hausa/Fulani Muhammadu Sanusi II2024 Emir
Karu Kingdom Middle BeltGbagyi/Gwari Karu Luka Panya Baba2004 Esu
North Fulani/Kanuri Umar Muhammadu Kabir Umar 2017 Emir
North Hausa/Fulani 2008 Emir or Sarkin KatsinaThe rulers of Gusau and Maradi also use the title "Sarkin Katsina"
North Hausa/Fulani Najib Husaini Adamu Emir
Keana Chiefdom Middle Belt Agatu Abdullahi Amegwa 2016 Osana of Keana
North Hausa/Fulani Sama'ila Muhammad Mera 1996 Amir Argungu
Keffi Emirate Middle Belt Hausa/Fulani Muhammadu Cindo Yamusa II Emir
Middle Belt Hausa/Fulani 2021 Sarkin Sudan
KumbwadaNiger StateHajiya Haidzatu Ahmed1998Queen
KupaMiddle BeltKupa/NupeAbugiMuhammadu Kabiru Isah II1967Maiyaki
North Kanuri 2019 Emir Sarkin Lafia
Lafiagi Emirate Middle Belt Nupe Mohammed Kudu Kawu 2021 Etsu Fulani jihad state founded 1824
Lagos Southwest Yoruba 2003 Formerly known as Eko
Middle Belt Nupe 2002 Etsu
Middle Belt Umaru Mohammed Sani Emir
North Manga Bashir Albishir Bukar[9] Emir
Misau Emirate North Kanuri/Fulani Ahmed Suleiman 2015 Emir
Moroa Middle Belt Atyap 1966 Agwam Asholyio
Mubi Emirate Middle Belt Abu Bakar Isa Ahmadu Emir
Middle Belt Hausa/Fulani Abbas Tafida[10] 1988 Emir
Nasarawa EmirateMiddle Belt Hausa/Fulani2018 Emir
Southsouth Ijaw Edmund Maduabebe Daukoru, Mingi XII 2008 Amanyanabo
Southsouth Ijaw Amanyanabo
North Hausa/Fulani Yunusa Muhammad Danyaya 2024 Chief
Southeast Igbo 1963
Southeast Igbo 1988 Eze Nri Holder of the highest and most revered ofo in Igboland, the Ofo Nri-Menri.
Obioko KingdomSoutheast Obioko Ekpo Eyo Abassi Eyo III 2008 Obong
Chukwudubem Iweka III Eze Obosi Anambra State Baker Jr 1.2014 Ogbia Kingdom[11] Southsouth Ogbia-Ijaw Ogbia Town Charles Dumaro Owaba, Obanobhan III2017 Obanobhan
Oke Ila Kingdom Southwest Yoruba Olufemi Oladapo Babalola Obalumo Related to the Igbomina state of Isedo
Oke-Ona Egba Southwest Yoruba Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso Karunwi III 1989 Oshile Part of the confederation of Egbaland
Otherwise known as Bonny since colonial times
South-South Urhobo Orhue I 2006 Orodje
Southeast Alfred Semenitari Abam Ado IX 2002 Amanyanabo
Southwest Yoruba 2006
Southeast Igbo Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe 2002 Obi
Southeast Igbo Patrick II Acholonu2009 Igwe XI, Duru IX
Southwest Yoruba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun 2010 Ataoja
Southeast Igbo Emmanuel E. Njemanze 1989 Ozuruigbo
Southwest Yoruba 2019 Olowo
Southwest Yoruba Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu II 2005 Part of the confederation of Egbaland
Southwest Yoruba Abimbola Akeem Owoade 2025 One of the two ranking Yoruba monarchs
Middle Belt Nupe 2019 Etsu
North Ngizim Umar Bubaram[12] Emir Not to be confused with the Fika Emirate, based in the same town
RanoNorthHausa/Fulani
North Hausa/Fulani 2006 Sultan See also List of sultans of Sokoto
Middle Belt Hausa/Fulani 2000 Sarkin Zazzau Formerly Abuja Emirate
Middle belt Tiv James Ayatse 2016 Tor Tiv
Middle Belt Tula Kaltungo, Gombe Abubakar Buba Atare II 2009 Mai
Ubani see Bonny
Ugbo-Igbo Southeast Igbo Ugbo town Godwin Ebem Udeonu October 1978 Igwe
Southwest Yoruba 2009 Olugbo
SouthsouthOtovowodo Ajuwe Oharisi III 1992
Southsouth Ode-ItsekiriOgiame Atuwatse III2021 Olu Olu of Warri. See also kingdom of Warri 1478
Muhammadu Sambo Haruna October 2010 Emir Fulani Emirate
Middle Belt Manu Ishaku Ada Ali 28 January 2022 Aku Uka
North Hausa/Fulani Muhammad Zayyanu Sarkin
Zamfara Emirate North Hausa/Fulani Muhammad Attahiru Ahmad Sarkin
Zaria
North Hausa/Fulani Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli 2020 Sarkin The ruler of the Suleja Emirate also uses the title "Sarkin Zazzau"

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nigerian Traditional States . 2022-12-15 . www.worldstatesmen.org.
  2. News: Simwa . Adrianna . 2022-08-30 . Kings and their titles in Nigeria: List of traditional rulers . 2022-12-15 . Legit.ng. en.
  3. Web site: Nigerians go crazy for a title . Chris Ewokor . . 1 August 2007 . 2010-09-01.
  4. Web site: Traditional States of Nigeria . WorldStatesmen.org . 2010-09-01.
  5. Web site: Ogbiablog . 2021 . King Omie Theophilus of Anyama Clan decries lack of basic amenities . Ogbia Blog.
  6. Web site: Samuel . Oyadongha . 2010 . ExMilitants in Bloody clash . Vanguard.
  7. Web site: Kingmakers Crown New Shehu of Dikwa. Daily Independent. Abdulkareem Haruna. 28 March 2010. 2010-09-01.
  8. Web site: Otaru Tasks Ebira Nation On Unity . Nigerian Observer . PIUS ALAO . 2009-10-26 . 2010-09-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110726115728/http://www.nigerianobservernews.com/26102009/news/insideedo/indexnews2.html . 2011-07-26.
  9. Web site: Machina Emirate Council . Machina Emirate . 2010-09-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090209172240/http://machinanigeria.org/emirate.php . 2009-02-09 . dead .
  10. Web site: Emir of Muri Crisis Resolved - Nyame . Daily Trust . Tashikalmah Hallah . 13 July 1988 . 2010-09-04.
  11. Web site: punchng . 2016-09-05 . Feud: Jonathan’s kinsmen break 25-year-old jinx, get king . 2024-11-12 . Punch Newspapers . en-US.
  12. Web site: Mai Potiskum hails appointment of Bauchi Emir . 9 August 2010 . Japhet Madaki . Peoples Daily . 2010-09-01.

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