A Quick Dive into how the 36 States of Nigeria got their Names and the Mineral Resources found in each State

A Quick Dive into how the 36 States of Nigeria got their Names and the Mineral Resources found in each State

Nigeria, a federal republic in West Africa comprises 36 states and one Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Each state is subdivided into Local Government Areas (LGAs) and there are currently a total of 774 Local Government Areas in the country. From the names of rivers to popular individuals, the name of each Nigerian state is rich and peculiar to its history. 

Also, each state is blessed with two or more mineral resources which we will reveal. On today’s Saturday Small Chops, we dive into how the 36 states of Nigeria got their names and the mineral resources found in each state.

1. Abia

Abia is an acronym got from the four major groups of people in the state at the time it was formed in 1991. The groups are Aba, Bende, Isuikwuato and Afikpo, ABIA. Some mineral resources found in Abia State include Gold, Limestone, Crude Oil, Salt and Lead/Zinc.

2. Adamawa

Adamawa was named after a warrior called Modibbo Adama Bin Ardo Hassan, who conquered the region in early 19^th century. Some mineral resources found in this state include Gypsum, Magnesite and Bentonite. 

3. Akwa-Ibom

Akwa-Ibom was named after the Qua Iboe, otherwise called the Kwa Iboe river. Some minerals found in the state include Lead/Zinc, Limestone, Clay and Salt.

4. Anambra

Anambra got its name from Oma Mbala (Anyim Oma Mbala), a popular river in the state. Some minerals found in Anambra State include Lead/Zinc, Limestone, Iron Ore, Salt, Gypsum, Clay and Crude Oil.

5. Bauchi

According to the history of Bauchi State, there are three versions of how the state derived its name. Firstly, Bauchi is a Hausa word which means the southern flanks of Hausa land. Tribes who pitched their tents in the southern parts were often referred to as ‘Kasashen Bauchi’ and the area later became known as Bauchi. Secondly, it was recorded that the state was named after Baushe, a famous hunter who settled at the place before the 19th century. The third version holds that Bauchi is a Hausa word for slavery since it was a centre for slave raiders. Minerals in this state include Gypsum, and traces of Lead/Zinc.

6. Bayelsa

Bayelsa was got by combining the acronyms of three Local Government Areas of old Rivers State. They include Brass LGA known as BALGA, Yenegoa LGA known as YELGA and Sagbama LGA known as SALGA. It is thus formed as BA + YEL + SA = BAYELSA. Minerals found in this state include Clay, Crude Oil, Limestone, Manganese, Lignite and traces of Lead/Zinc.

7. Benue

Benue State was named after the mispronounced ‘Binuwe’, which is the Batta word for Mother of Waters. Another fact has it that the state got its name from the Benue River. Benue State’s minerals include Lead/Zinc, Limestone, Iron Ore, Coal, Marble, Salt, Gemstones, and Gypsum amongst others.

8. Borno

Borno, being the alternative name of the Kanuris, who are the predominant ethnic group in the state informed its name. Minerals found in this state include Clay, Limestone, Gypsum, Diatomite and Bentonite.

9. Cross River

Cross River got its name from a river called Oyono or Cross River, which passes through the state. Cross River’s minerals include Limestone, Uranium, Lead/Zinc, Salt and Crude Oil amongst others.

10. Delta 

The name ‘Delta’ was got from the Mississippi Delta region, the principal area of operations for Delta Air Service in 1928. The state is where the River Niger forms a delta as it enters the Atlantic Ocean. Minerals found in Delta State include Marble, Glass sand, Iron Ore, and Gypsum.

11. Ebonyi

Ebonyi is another version of ‘Aboine’, a river that cuts through the state’s capital, Abakaliki. Some minerals found in Ebonyi include Lead, Salt and Gold shocked.

12. Edo

The Bini people dwelling in the area had often referred to themselves as Edo or Iduu. This inspired the name of the state. Some minerals found in Edo State include Marble, Clay, Iron Ore, Gypsum, Gold, Crude Oil and Glass sand.

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13. Ekiti

The state got its name from ‘Okiti’, a term which means the settlement of many hills. Minerals found in Ekiti State include Granite, Kaolin and Tatium. 

14. Enugu

As a result of the hills and rocky terrain in the area, the inhabitants named the state in the indigenous Igbo language, ‘Enu Ugwu’, which means ‘top of the hill’. Some Enugu State minerals include Coal, Limestone and Lead/Zinc.

15. Gombe

Gombe was named after the dialect of the Fulani language, Fulfude, which is spoken in the area. Minerals found in this state include Gemstone and Gypsum.

16. Imo

Imo derived its name from the popular Imo Mmiri River. Minerals found in Imo State include Lead/Zinc, Limestone, Gypsum, Salt and Crude Oil amongst others.

17. Jigawa

The name, Jigawa was inspired by the unique golden-coloured soil of the area. Butytes can be found in Jigawa State.

18. Kaduna

Kaduna, a Hausa word for crocodile informed the name of the state. The state was named Kaduna following the many crocodiles in Kaduna River. Some minerals in Kaduna State include Gold, Clay, Sapphire, Ruby, and Gemstone.

19. Kano

Kano was named after a blacksmith from the Gaya tribe who settled in the area while he was on the lookout for ironstones. Minerals found in this state include Copper, Glass sand, Gemstone and Lead/Zinc.

20. Katsina

Katsina was named after the wife of a popular local ruler known as Janzama. Her name was Katsina. Some of the state’s minerals include Marble and Salt.

21. Kebbi

Kebbi State got its name from the 14^th century ‘Kebbi Kingdom’, which was a province of the former Songhai Empire. Gold is found in Kebbi State.

22. Kogi

Kogi is said to have been formed from ‘Kogin’, the Hausa word for river. Some minerals in Kogi State include Iron Ore, Gypsum, Marble, and Tantalite.

23. Kwara

River Niger was previously called River Kwara by the Nupes at the Northern border of the state. Kwara State was named after this. Kwara has Gold, Marble, Iron Ore, Tantalite and more.

24. Lagos

There are different explanations for how Lagos derived its name. According to some historians, Lagos, which means Lakes in Portuguese was the name given by the Portuguese explorer, Rui de Sequeira when he visited the area in 1472. Then, he named the area around the city ‘Lago de Curamo’, which means Lake of Healing. Some minerals in Lagos State include Glass sand, Clay, Bitumen and Crude Oil.

25. Nasarawa

Nasarawa is a native word for victorious. The state was named by the founder of Nasarawa Kingdom, Makama Dogo. Nasarawa has Beryl, Dolomite/Marble, Sapphire, Tantalite, Iron Ore, Limestone, Salt and more.

26. Niger

This was named after the River Niger. The state has Coal, Iron Ore, Tin, Gold, Gypsum, Salt and Petroleum.

27. Ogun

Ogun was also named after the Ogun River. Some minerals in Ogun State include Clay, Limestone, Gemstone and Bitumen. 

28. Ondo

Ondo was named after the settlers of the old Ondo Kingdom. Some minerals in Ondo include Bitumen, Gypsum, Clay, Glass sand, Limestone, Coal, Crude Oil and more.

29. Osun

Osun State was also named after a river, the River Osun. Minerals in Osun include Columbite, Granite, Tourmaline and more.

30. Oyo

This state was named after the Old Oyo Empire. Some minerals in this state include Marble, Clay, Gold, Gemstone, Tantalite and more.

31. Plateau

Plateau State was named after the picturesque Jos Plateau, a mountainous area in the north of the state, with enthralling rocks formation. Some minerals found in Plateau include Emerald, Tin, Marble, Lead/Zinc, Iron Ore, Clay, Coal, Salt, and Gemstone.

32. Rivers

Rivers State was named after the many water bodies present in the area. Rivers State has Glass sand, Clay, Marble and Crude Oil.

33. Sokoto

Sokoto is the anglicized version of the Arabic word, ‘suk’ which means market or place of commerce. The state was named after the defunct Sokoto Caliphate. Some minerals in Sokoto are Gold, Limestone, Gypsum, Clay, and Salt.

34. Taraba

Taraba derived its name from the Taraba River. Taraba State has Lead/Zinc.

35. Yobe

Komadugu Yobe or River Yobe inspired the name of the state. Yobe has Tintomite.

36. Zamfara

Zamfara was named after Zamfarawa, one of the subdialects of the Eastern Hausa group. Zamfara state has Gold amongst other mineral resources.

Federal Capital Territory, Abuja

Abuja is the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. Minerals found in Abuja include Marble, Clay, Gold, Lead/Zinc amongst others.

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