Niger State history, Niger State Local Government Areas and Senatorial Zones/ Districts in Niger State. The post also has Local Government Area that make each Niger State Senatorial Districts.
Niger or Niger State is a state in Central Nigeria and the largest state in the country. The state capital is Minna, and other major cities are Bida, Kontagora, and Suleja. It was formed in 1976 when the then North-Western State was bifurcated into Niger State and Sokoto State. It is home to Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, two of Nigeria’s former military rulers. The Nupe, Gbagyi, Kamuku, Kambari, Dukawa, Hausa and Koro form the majority of numerous indigenous tribes of Niger State.
Read: History of Nigeria
The state is named after the River Niger. Two of Nigeria’s major hydroelectric power stations, the Kainji Dam and Shiroro Dam, are located in Niger State, and the newly Zungeru Dam is also located there, the Jebba Dam is half Niger state and Kwara Sharing boundaries. The famous Gurara Falls is in Niger State, and Gurara Local Government Area is named after the Gurara River, on whose course the fall is situated. Also situated there is Kainji National Park, the largest National Park of Nigeria, which contains Kainji Lake, the Borgu Game Reserve and the Zugurma Game Reserve.
Guarara Waterfalls
Gurara waterfalls is located in Gurara, a local government area of Niger State, North Central Nigeria.[1] The waterfalls is approximately 30 metres in height and it lies on the Gurara River along the Suleja-Minna Road.
Myth and folklore
According to oral history, Gurara Waterfalls was discovered by a Gwari hunter called Buba in 1745 before some Europeans discovered it in 1925 after they found it as a recreation centre. Prior to the discovery of the waterfalls by the Europeans, Gurara Waterfalls was worshipped by people living in communities around it. Oral history also has it that Gurara Waterfalls and Gurara River were named after two deities called Gura and Rara.
Tourism
Despite its chequered history, Gurara Waterfalls is one of the major tourist sites in Nigeria. There have been plans in recent times to turn it into a resort with a recreation centre and a seven-star hotel around it.
Niger StateSharing boundaries. The famous Gurara Falls is in Niger State, and Gurara Local Government Area is named after the Gurara River, on whose course the fall is
Gurara Waterfalls metres in height and it lies on the Gurara River along the Suleja-Minna Road. According to oral history, Gurara Waterfalls was discovered by a Gwari.
Niger State Senatorial Districts
Niger State has three (3) Senatorial Zones/ Districts namely Niger East, Niger North, Niger South.
Niger East Senatorial Zone / District
- Bosso Local Government Area
- Chanchaga Local Government Area
- Gurara Local Government Area
- Munya Local Government Area
- Paikoro Local Government Area
- Rafi Local Government Area
- Shiroro Local Government Area
- Suleja Local Government Area
- Tafa Local Government Area
Read: Nigerian States & Capital
Niger North Senatorial Zone / District
- Agwara Local Government Area
- Borgu Local Government Area
- Kontagora Local Government Area
- Magama Local Government Area
- Mariga Local Government Area
- Mashegu Local Government Area
- Rijau Local Government Area
- Wushishi Local Government Area
Niger South Senatorial Zone / District
- Agaie Local Government Area
- Bida Local Government Area
- Edatti Local Government Area
- Gbako Local Government Area
- Katcha Local Government Area
- Lapai Local Government Area
- Lavun Local Government Area
- Mokwa Local Government Area
Local Government Areas & Languages of Niger State
| LGA | Languages |
| Agaie | Nupe, Dibo; Kakanda; |
| Agwara | Cishingini |
| Bida | Nupe, BassaNge, Gbari |
| Borgu | Busa, Bisã; Boko; Cishingini; Laru; Reshe |
| Chanchaga | Basa-Gumna; Basa-Gurmana; Gbagyi; Gbari; Nupe; Kamuku; Tanjijili |
| Edati | Nupe, BassaNge |
| Gbako | Nupe |
| Gurara | Gwandara, Gbagyi |
| Katcha | Nupe, Dibo; Kupa |
| Kontagora | Acipa, Eastern; Asu; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi |
| Lapai | Nupe, Dibo; Gbari; Gupa-Abawa; Kakanda; Kami; |
| Magama | Lopa; Tsikimba; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi |
| Mariga | Baangi; Bassa-Kontagora; Cicipu; Kamuku; Nupe; Rogo; Shama-Sambuga; Tsikimba; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi |
| Mashegu | Asu; Tsikimba; Tsishingini; Nupe-Tako |
| Minna | Nupe; Gbari; Gbagyi |
| Mokwa | Nupe, Yoruba; Gbari |
| Munya | Adara |
| Paikoro | Gbari; Kadara |
| Rafi | Basa-Gurmana; Bauchi; Cahungwarya; Fungwa; Gbagyi; Gbari; Kamuku; Pangu; Rogo; Shama-Sambuga |
| Rijau | Fulani; C’Lela; Tsishingini; Tsuvadi; ut-Hun |
| Shiroro | Gbagyi; Gurmana |
| Suleja | Gbagyi; Gbari; Gwandara; Nupe; Tanjijili |
| Wushishi | Fulani, Hausa; Nupe; Gbari |