Which states are the richest Northern states in Nigeria right now? The Federal Republic of Nigeria is made up of 6 geopolitical zones, out of which 4 are home to the 19 northern states. That’s right, out of the 36 states in the country, 19 can be classified as northern states. These states consist of various ethnic groups, with the major ethnic group being the Hausa/Fulani.
Over the years, there have been a lot of tension, both palpable and subtle, between the Northern states and their Southern counterparts; which consists of the Southwest, Southeast, and South-south regions, mainly inhabited by the Igbos, Yoruba and other minority ethnic groups.
The “tribal wars” have been in existence since the time the country was formed, although it is important to note that actual wars amongst tribes have only broken out a few times in the past couple of decades. The main problem continues to be the unspoken tension between the tribes that have given rise to various extremist and terrorist groups.
There are approximately 80 million people in Northern Nigeria, this is a staggering number, especially when you realize that the population of Germany is just over 80 million and they have a relatively high GDP. Now, let us check out a few of these states and see how they perform in terms of revenue generation.
Here are ten of the richest Northern Nigerian states in the country.
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The Top 10 Richest Northern States In Nigeria
10. Adamawa ($4.5Billion GDP)
Formerly called Gongola State, Adamawa state is 30 years old and is a popular Northern state, located in the North-Eastern part of the country, close to Cameroon. Its 3.17 million population is governed by his excellency, Governor Umaru Fintiri all the way from its capital city in Yola. Thanks to its rich and deep cultural heritage, there are a host of languages spoken in the state.
9. Bauchi ($4.7 Billion GDP)
Taking after the Historical city of Bauchi, Bauchi state has made this city its very own capital. Interestingly, the state of Bauchi was formed way back in 1976 after its break away from what is the present Gombe state. This North-Eastern state is largely famous for its exquisite works in arts and craft as well as all-round expertise in agriculture, added to the regions rich historical values and stories.
Bauchi state indeed has a lot to offer the Nigerian Economy, placing it on the ninth (9th) place on our list of the ten richest Northern states in Nigeria.
8. Sokoto ($4.8 Billion GDP)
Sokoto can be found in the far North-Western region of the country. Its 4.2 million people are comprised of mainly Fulani and Hausa ethnic groups. Way back in the 19th century BC, the capital city of Sokoto state which is also called Sokoto, was very pivotal; some would even argue that it was one of the most important cities in the history of the entire Fulani Empire.
Thanks to its rich culture and deep background, the state leverages its tourist attraction and agricultural practices passed down from olden times to generate an impressive GDP for its host country, Nigeria.
7. Plateau State ($5.15 Billion GDP)
This is the twelfth (12th) largest state in the whole of Nigeria, it can be found in the central region of the country, just a few kilometers shy of the middle belt. The state is endowed with lots of elevated and scenic plains and hills and waterfalls, which are all beautifully arranged around Jos, which also happens to be the State’s capital city.
Thanks to its natural architecture, the city is home to foreign tourists and has the perfect climatic conditions for hosting said tourists.
6. Borno State ($5.17 Billion GDP)
Now, I must confess that it came as a bit of shock to find Borno on this list. The state has been rife with insecurities and war that one would expect in GDP to be at an all-time low. Regardless of this, Borno state is ranked 6th richest Northern state in Nigeria, this goes to show how resilient its people and Government are.
The North Eastern State sits at the edge of the country and even shares its borders with the Republic of Chad.
5. Niger ($6 Billion GDP)
Niger state, a state named after the river Niger, holds the title as Nigeria’s largest state by landmass. Of course, such a huge state has to contain a huge amount of people; there are approximately 3.9 million individuals currently living in Niger.
It plays host to two of Nigeria’s most important Dams (Shiroro and Kanji). Its capital city is called Minna and close to it is the Kanji National park which happens to be the country’s largest National park.
4. Katsina ($6.02 Billion GDP)
The state was formed in 1987, after its breakaway from Kaduna. Today, Katsina is home to 5.8 million individuals most of which are of the Hausa and Fulani ethnic groups. It is one of the most densely populated states in Nigeria today.
The president of Nigeria hails from this State, which is a bit ironic considering the fact that it is one of the most plagued states in the country as far as terrorism is concerned.
3. Benue ($6.86 billion GDP)
This state which can be easily located in the Country’s north-central region, has a population of over 4.2 million, although this number might have dropped due to the high level of insecurity a killing in the country leading to an exodus for greener pastures.
Speaking of greener pastures, the soil and climate of Benue state make it one of the best states for agriculture. This has kept the state’s economy afloat despite its setbacks in security.
2. Kaduna ($10.3 Billion GDP)
Formed in 1967, the large North Central state with its capital sharing the same name as it, is home to 6.1 million people. In recent times, there has been a lot of cases of insecurity within the state, leading to a slight drop in the state’s GDP.
The fact that Kaduna state is second on our list, is undeniable proof of the State’s tenacity and deep heritage and resources.
1. Kano ($12.39 Billion GDP)
Nicknamed the Center of commerce, Kano state is an industrial and commercial state located in the deep northern region of the country. The state is also among the most populated state in the whole country. It is home to the Islamic banking system, proof of its very dynamic economy.
