From top, left to right: Minna City gate (exit); Tunga roundabout; AP roundabout; Minna central mosque; St. Michael's Cathedral; landscape view of Minna city
Niger State is ethnically diverse, including communities ofAdara,Fulani,Gbagyi,Hausa,Hun-Saare,Kambari,Kamuku,Koro Gungawa,Nupe, and other ethnic groups. In terms of religion,Islam andChristianity are the most practised faiths with a minority of adherents of traditionalist religions.
Historically, parts of modern-day Niger State were centres of powerful pre-colonial states, including theNupe Kingdom, Gbagyi states, and parts of theHausa Bakwai states. In the early nineteenth century, parts of the state were incorporated into theSokoto Caliphate following theFulani jihad. With British colonisation in the early 1900s, the area became part of theNorthern Nigeria Protectorate. Upon Nigeria's independence in 1960, Niger State was initially part of theNorthern Region until 1967, when it became part of theNorth-Western State. In 1976, Niger State was created as a distinct entity following the breakup of North-Western State and in the 1990s, the state gained the Borgu region from Kwara. Since the late 2010s, Niger has been one of the states hit hardest bybanditry and terrorism.
Economically, Niger State is largely driven by agriculture along with livestock farming and herding. The state plays a key role in Nigeria's energy sector due to its hydroelectric dams. Niger State has thetenth-highestGDP in the country but has alowHuman Development Index ranking.[8]
The governor is selected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two -thirds of the Statelocal government areas. If no candidate passes threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government Areas.[9]
The state has 25Local Government Areas, each headed by a local government chairman. They are divided into districts, each with a district head while villages are headed by village heads.
The state has very warmclimate with a yearly average of 34°Celsius. It is warm or hot all year, but there are few typically tropical and sultry months, although humidity is sometimes uncomfortably high in June to September. The best time for traveling is from November to April, when there is less rain. The rainiest days occur in May to October. September has the rainiest days, and December the least. January is the sunniest month, and August the least sunny.[26]
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