Niger state is geographically Nigeria's largest state. With a total land area of about 76,000 square kilometres, the state is located in nation's northeast region, and takes its name from the great Niger River which runs through it and along its southern border with Kwara state while flowing to the confluence town of Lokoja. Niger state was created from the defunct North-western state in 1976 by General Murtala Mohammed, and remains one of the few Nigerian states to have expanded its political boundaries since creation; having gained some portions of neighbouring Kwara and Kogi state in the early 1990s.
However, much of the land mass now occupied by the Federal Capital Territory Abuja once belonged to natives of Niger state.
Popularly hailed as the "Power State", Niger is home to three hydroelectric power station at Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro. Together, they supply nearly half of the nations electric power through a national transmission grid. With larlarge expanse of fertile lands, sufficient annual rainfall, and active farming population (especially in the rural areas), Niger state is one of Nigeria's leading states in terms of food production.
Niger farmers cultivated tons of yams, millet, soya beans, guinea corn and rice annually. The state revenue base is further enhanced by an active fishing industry supported by the Niger River and its many tributaries, as well as the expansive Kainji Lake and its basin.
Niger state is home to a fairly mixed population of over 4 million. Among these, the Gbagyi, Gwari, Nupe, Bassa and Ebira are predominant. English is widely speaken as the official language of business, and there is a significant population of Christian in the state, but owing to its history as a part of the Sokoto Caliphate, the state has a large number of Muslim and Hausa language speakers.
Perhaps the most obvious indicatorof it's close ties to the ancient seat of power at Sokoto is the existence of 8 emirate councils: Agaie, Bids, Kontagora, Suleja, Lapai, Kagara, Borgu and Minna within the state.
