About

Niger State is in the North-Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria and the largest state by area. Formed in 1976 when the former North-Western State was divided into Niger and Sokoto, it has Minna as its capital, with Bida, Kontagora and Suleja among its other major towns. It is named after the River Niger and is home to several indigenous groups, including the Nupe, Gbagyi and Kamuku. Niger is central to Nigeria's power sector, hosting the Kainji, Shiroro, Jebba and new Zungeru hydroelectric dams. Its economy is otherwise driven by agriculture — cereals, yam, sugar cane and fisheries — alongside tourism assets such as Gurara Falls and Kainji National Park, the largest in Nigeria. Public finance and development priorities focus on agriculture, power and tourism-linked investment, infrastructure and growing internally generated revenue.