List Of States In The Niger Delta Region Of Nigeria:
The Niger delta region of Nigeria is a mineral rich region which is located in the Southern parts of Nigeria. The region which is predominantly known for vast production of crude oil and natural gas is made up some Nigerian states and if you were searching for a comprehensive list of all states in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria, then this is the right article for you as we’ll be talking about that in a moment.
Nigeria is made up of 36 states and out of these states, 9 states are the states in the Niger Delta region. These states consist of all the 6 states in the South geopolitical zone as well as one from the South-West geopolitical zone (Ondo State) and two from South-East (Abia and Imo States).
As we mentioned above, the Niger Delta region of Nigeria is popularly known for its vast production of crude oil and natural gas as almost 100% of oil produced and refined in Nigeria are gotten from states in this region.
The region extends over about 70,000 km2 (27,000 sq mi) and makes up 7.5% of Nigeria’s land mass with an estimated population of over 30 million people as at the last census conducted in Nigeria.
Originally, the Niger Delta region consisted of 3 states which are Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers States but in the 2000, the regime of Nigeria’s former president, Olusegun Obasanjo added 7 states which include Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River State, Edo, Imo and Ondo States to the region.
Without taking more time, lets show you a complete list of Niger Delta states and their governors, deputy governors and estimated population in 2020. It is also important to know that these states can also be referred to as the oil producing states in Nigeria.
Full List Of States in Niger Delta Region Of Nigeria & Their Current Governors
The following states are the states that make up the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. These states should not be mistaken for the states in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria as the South-South is a geopolitical zone while the Niger Delta is an oil producing region that consists of states from 3 geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
1) Delta State
- Current Governor – Arthur Okowa Ifeanyi
- Current Deputy Governor – Kingsley Otuaro
- Date Created – 27 August 1991
- Estimated Population – 20 Million People
Delta State is a state Nigeria’s oil rich Niger Delta region and is located in the South Southern part of Nigeria. The state which has an estimated population of over 4 million people, occupies a total land area of 16,842 square kilometres (6,503 sq mi).
The state was carved out of the now defunct Bendel state with the other half being Edo State and it has a total number of 26 local government areas.
It is one of Nigeria’s largest oil producing states and it accounts for over 21% of oil produced in Nigeria on a daily basis. Apart from curde oil, Delta state is also known for the production of various agricultural products which includes palm oil, cotten, cassava as well as others.
Other mineral deposits that can be found in Delta state includes industrial clay, silica, lignite, kaolin, tar sand, decorative rocks, limestone and others.
2) Rivers State
- Current Governor – Ezenwo Nyesom Wike
- Current Deputy Governor – Ipalibo Banigo
- Date Created – 27 May 1967
- Estimated Population – 5.2 Million People
Rivers State, also known simply as Rivers is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria and one of the states that make up the Nigeria Delta region. The state is one of the highest producing states in Nigeria and accounts for more that 22% of the total oil produced in Nigeria daily.
The state is home to a huge number of ethnic groups of which some are the Ikwerre people, Ikwerre Subgroups, Ijaw Subgroups, Ogoni people and many other ethnic groups. The State has a total area of 11,077 km² (4,277 mi²), making it the 26th largest state in Nigeria in terms of land mass.
Rivers state also hosts some of the biggest oil refineries we have in Nigeria right now and these oil refineries are located in the capital city of Port-Harcourt. Other major natural resources that can be found in Rivers State include silica sand, glass sand, clay and some agricultural products.
3) Akwa-Ibom State
- Current Governor – Udom Emmanuel
- Current Deputy Governor – Akon Eyakenyi
- Date Created – 23 September 1987
- Estimated Population – 5.4 Million People
Akwa-Ibom is a Nigeria State which is located in the South-south geopolitical zone of the country. This state is also one of the states that makes up the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
The state has a population of more than 5 Million people and sits on an estimated land mass an area of land estimated to be around 770/km2 (2,000/sq mi). It is also one of Nigeria’s highest oil producing states and accounts for more than 30% of oil produced in Nigeria on a daily basis.
4) Bayelsa State
- Current Governor – Douye Diri
- Current Deputy Governor – Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo
- Date Created – 1 October 1996
- Estimated Population – 1.7 Million People
Bayelsa is one of Nigeria’s South Southern states which is also part of the Niger Delta region in the country. With an estimated population of 1.5 Million inhabitants, Bayelsa is the least populated state in the Niger Delta region.
This state is one of the highest oil producing states in Nigeria right now. It was also the first state in Nigeria where crude oil was discovered in commercial quantities.
The state whose capital city is known as Yenegoa was formed in 1996 from part of Rivers State. The major natural resource in this state remains oil as Bayelsa State has one of the largest crude oil and natural gas deposits in Nigeria.
5) Edo State
- Current Governor – Godwin Obaseki
- Current Deputy Governor – Philip Shuaibu
- Date Created – 27 August 1991
- Estimated Population – 5 Million People
Edo state is a state in South-Southern Nigeria and one of the Niger Delta states. It is also one of the oil producing states in the country and is made up of 4 major ethnic groups; namely the Bini, Esan, Owan, and Etsako.
The capital city of this state is Benin city and the state has a high presence of residents from across the country and the world because of its cosmopolitan tendencies. Aside oil, other major mineral resources that can be found in Edo state includes limestone, quarry, palm oil and some other agricultural products.
6) Cross River State
- Current Governor – Benedict Ayade
- Current Deputy Governor – Ivara Esu
- Date Created – 27 May 1967
- Estimated Population – 3.8 Million People
Cross River state is a state in South-Southern Nigeria and one of the states that make up the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. It’s capital city, Calabar has at one point in time served as the capital city of Nigeria.
This state is one Nigerian state with lots of natural resources and a rich cultural heritage. It is also regarded as the tourism capital of Nigeria as the state is one of the top destination of most tourists coming into the country.
Cross River State derives its name from the Cross River which passes through the state. It is also one of the oil producing states in Nigeria today.
7) Abia State
- Current Governor – Okezie Ikpeazu
- Current Deputy Governor – Ude Oko Chukwu
- Date Created – 27 August 1991
- Estimated Population – 4.1 Million
Abia State is the first South-eastern state on this list of states in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. The state is home to one of Africa’s most popular industrial cities, Aba and a beautiful capital city known as Umuahia.
This oil producing state is one of the Niger Delta states in Nigeria. It is dominated by people of the Igbo tribe who are mostly traders and manufacturers.
Abia State has the 4th highest index of human development in the Nigeria, with numerous economic activities and fast growing populations as recorded by the United Nations early 2018.
8) Imo State
- Current Governor – Hope Uzodinma
- Current Deputy Governor – Placid Njoku
- Date Created – 3 February 1976
- Estimated Population – 4.9 Miilion
Imo State is one of the 36 states in Nigeria and one of the states in the Niger Delta region of the country. Owerri currently serves as the capital city of this state and other notable cities/towns in Imo state include Orlu, Obowo, Oguta, Mbaise and Okigwe.
Major natural resources that can be found in Imo state includes crude oil, natural gas, lead, Calcium Cabornate, zinc, palm oil and other agricultural products. Imo State is also one of the top oil producing states in Nigeria and according to Wikipedia, there are over 163 oil wells at over 12 different locations in the state
9) Ondo State
- Current Governor – Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu
- Current Deputy Governor – Agboola Ajayi
- Date Created – 3 February 1976
- Estimated Population – 3.5 Million
Ondo State is another Nigeria state which is regarded as one of the states in the Niger Delta region of the country. It is the only South-Western state in the Niger Delta region and the only oil producing state in the geopolitical zone.
This state is Ekiti state to the north, Kogi State to the northeast, Edo State to the east, Delta State to the southeast, Ogun State to the southwest, and Osun State to the northwest. It also has an estimated human population of over 3.5 Million people and its capital city is known as Akure.
