₦airaland Forum

Ctorch:
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and it is blessed with diverse cultures, tribes and traditions. There are about 520 local languages in Nigeria of which nine of them are extinct. Some of the largest include Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Fulfulde, Ibibio, Edo, Kanuri and Urhobo.
Today we will be giving you a comprehensive list of the languages spoken in each states in Nigeria.

1. Abia State
Abia is a state in the south eastern part of Nigeria with administrative capital in the city of Umuahia.

Language spoken: Igbo (majority), Ibibio (minority)


2. Adamawa State
Adamawa is a state in northeastern Nigeria, with its capital at Yola. In 1991, when Taraba State was carved out from Gongola State, the geographical entity Gongola State was renamed Adamawa State, with four administrative divisions: Adamawa, Ganye, Mubi and Numan.
Language spoken: Major languages of Adamawa State are Bacama/Bata (Bwatiye), Bura-Pabir, Fulfulde, Huba (Kilba), Longuda, Mumuye and Samba Daka. Most other languages in Adamawa State are extremely small and endangered minority languages, due to the influence of Hausa and Fulfulde. Holma is reported to be dying out.

3. Akwa Ibom State
The state is located in the South-South geopolitical zone, and is bordered on the east by Cross River State, on the west by Rivers State and Abia State, and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean and the southernmost tip of Cross River State. Akwa Ibom is one of Nigeria’s 36 states, with a population of over five million people

Language spoken: There are 20 languages spoken as first languages in Akwa Ibom State. The major languages are Anaang, Ibibio and Igbo. The other languages are minority languages.
Anaang, Ebughu, Efai, Ekit, Enwang, Etebi, Ibibio, Ibino, Ibuoro, Idere, Igbo, Ika, Iko, Ilue, Itu Mbon Uzo, Nkari, Obolo, Okobo, Oro, Uda

4. Anambra State
Anambra is a state in southeastern Nigeria. Its name was inspired by one of its Northern and riverine clans Anam but merged with “branch”.

Language spoken: Igbo (majority), Igala (minority)

5. Bauchi State
Bauchi State is a state in northern Nigeria. Its capital is the city of Bauchi. The state was formed in 1976 when the former North-Eastern State was broken up.

Language spoken: Hausa, Fulani, Warji, Gere, Bolewa, Zaar, Karekare, Kanuri, Butawa, Jarawa, Kirfi

6. Bayelsa State
Bayelsa is a state in southern Nigeria in the core Niger Delta region, between Delta State and Rivers State. Its capital is Yenagoa.

Language spoken: Biseni, Ekpeye, Engenn, Epie, Ijo, Izon, kugbo, Ogbia, Okodia, Oruma.


7. Benue State
Benue State is one of the North central states in Nigeria with it’s capital in Makurdi

Language spoken: There are 14 languages spoken as first languages is Benue State. The major languages are Idoma, Igede and Tiv. The other languages are minority languages. Some includes Akweya-Yachi, Etolu (Etilo), lgbo, Jukun, Ufia, Utonkong, Yalla


8. Borno State
Borno State is a state in north-eastern Nigeria. Its capital is Maiduguri. The state was formed in 1976 from the split of the North-Eastern State.

Language spoken: There are 28 (mostly Chadic) languages spoken as first languages in Borno State. Many of them are endangered due to the influence of Hausa and Kanuri. Major languages of Borno State are Shuwa Arabic, Kanuri, and Marghi. Some languages are spoken across the border in neighbouring Chad and Cameroon.

9. Cross River State
Cross River State is a coastal state in South Eastern Nigeria, named after the Cross River, which passes through the state.

Language spoken: 1. Efik 2. Ejagham(Ekoi) 3. Bekwarra 4. Yakuur Tribe 5. Boki Tribe 6. Agbo Tribe 7. Bahumono Tribe 8. Mbube Tribe 9. Mbembe Tribe 10. Ogoja people.

There are also many other minority tribes in Cross River state, whose origins and traditions are unknown but they mostly have their own LGAs. They include, the Ukelle, Etung, Anyima, Uyanga, Olulumo, Abayon, Ododop, Nkum, Nkim, Ikom and Akaju-Ndem amongst others. Cross River people are a very diverse people.

10. Delta State
Delta state is in South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria with a population of 4,112,445. Its capital is Asaba

Language spoken: Delta is quite ethnically diverse, and the beautiful tribes in Delta state include:
1. Urhobo 2. Itsekiri 3. Ijaw 4. Ukwani 5. Igbo (Delta Igbo), 6. Ika (@agbor) 7. Okpe 8. Okpe isoko 9. Isoko

11. Ebonyi State
Ebonyi State is in southeastern Nigeria. It is inhabited and populated primarily by the Igbo. Its capital and largest city is Abakaliki.

Language spoken: Ebonyi State is home to different sub-groups of the Igbo ethnic group. These include the Edda, the Ezza, the Izzi, and the Ikwo.

12. Enugu State
Enugu is a state in southeastern Nigeria, created in 1991 from part of the old Anambra State. Its capital and largest city is Enugu, from which the state derives its name.

Language spoken: Igbo, Idoma and Igala

13. Edo State
Edo State is in South South Geo-political zone of Nigeria with Benin City as its capital, the population of the entire state is approximately 8 million people.

Language spoken: he major tribal languages spoken in the state are Igarra, Edo, Etsako/Afemai, Esan and Okpamheri.

14. Ekiti State
Ekiti State is in Southwest region of Nigeria, declared a state on 1 October 1996 alongside five other states in the country by the then military government under head of state, General Sani Abacha

Language spoken: Ekitis are culturally homogeneous and they speak a dialect of Yoruba language known as Ekiti.



15. Gombe State
Gombe state located in the northeastern part of Nigeria, is one of the country’s 36 states; its capital is Gombe.

Language spoken: Gombe State comprises many tribal or ethnic groups among which are the Hausa, Tangale, Terawa, Waja, Kumo, Fulani, Kanuri, Bolewa, Jukun, Pero/Shonge, Tula, Cham, Lunguda, Dadiya, Banbuka etc. and Hausa is the common language of the people.

16. Imo State
Imo state is in southern Nigeria. Imo is bordered by the states of Anambra to the north, Abia (until 1991 part of Imo state) to the east, and Rivers to the south and west.

Language spoken: Igbo

17. Jigawa state
Jigawa is a state in northwestern Nigeria. Its capital is Dutse

Language spoken: The state is mainly populated by the Hausa, Fulani and the Mangawa, Badawa and Ngizimawa which are dialects of the kanuri language.

18. Kaduna State
Kaduna state is located at the northern part of Nigeria’s high plains. The vegetation cover is Sudan savannah characterized by scattered short trees, shrubs and grasses.

Language spoken: 1. Hausa 2. Gbagyi 3. Adara 4. Akurmi 5. Bajju 6. Bakulu 7. Gwandara 8. Atyab 9. Ham 10. Ninzo
Other Tribes In Kaduna State are
Anghan, Amo, Aruruma, Atachaat, Ayu, Bhazar, Bur, Binawa, Dingi, Fantswam, Fula, Gure, Gwong, Jangi, Kaibi, Kahugu, Kanufi, Kigono, Kinugu, Kitimi, Kiwafa, Kiwollo, Koro, Kuvori, Kuturmi, Lemoro, Mada (Mardan), Nandu, Nduyah, Numana, Nindem, Ningeshe, Ninkyop, Nyenkpa, Oegworok, Pikal, Pitti, Ribang, Rishuwa, Rumada, Ruruma, Rumayya, Shemawa, Sholio, Siyawa, Takad, Tarri, Tsam, Tuku.

19. Kano State
Kano State is a state located in Northern Nigeria. Created on May 27, 1967 from part of the Northern Region, Kano state borders Katsina State to the north-west, Jigawa State to the north-east, Bauchi State to the south-east and Kaduna State to the south-west. The capital of Kano

Language spoken: The official language of Kano State is Hausa language, but Fulani languages is commonly spoken.

20. Katsina State
Katsina is a state in North West zone of Nigeria. Its capital is Katsina

Language spoken: Hausa and Fulfulde.

21. Kebbi State
Kebbi is a state in north-western Nigeria with its capital at Birnin Kebbi. The state was created out of a part of Sokoto State in 1991.

Language spoken: Kebbi State has diverse ethnic groups, the dominant among which are Hausas, Fulanis, Kabawa, Dakarkaris, Kambaris,Gungawa, Dandawa, Zabarmawa, Dukawa, Fakkawa and Bangawa. These ethnic groups speak diverse languages and dialects, with the Hausa language spoken all over the state.

22. Kogi State
Kogi, is a state in the central region of Nigeria. It is popularly called the Confluence State because of the confluence of River Niger and River Benue at its capital, Lokoja, which is the first administrative capital of modern-day Nigeria.

Language spoken: There are three main ethnic groups and languages in Kogi: Igala, Ebira, Igbo and Okun (similar to Yoruba) with other minorities like Bassa, a small fraction of Nupe mainly in Lokoja, Gwari, Kakanda, Oworo people (similar to Yoruba), ogori magongo and the Eggan community under Lokoja Local Government.

23. Kwara State
Kwara is a state in Western Nigeria. Its capital is Ilorin. Kwara is located within the North Central geopolitical zone, commonly referred to as the Middle Belt.

Language spoken: Yoruba, Nupe, Bariba and Fulani

24. Lagos State
Lagos, sometimes referred to as Lagos State to distinguish it from Lagos Metropolitan Area, is a state in the southwestern geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

Language spoken: Yoruba

25. Nasarawa State
Nasarawa is a state in north central zone of Nigeria. Its capital is Lafia.

Language spoken: There are 29 languages spoken as first languages in Nasarawa State namely: agatu, ake, alago, arum-tesu, basa, basa-gumna, bu, duhwa, ebira, eggon. eloyi, gade, gbayi, gbari, goemai, gwandara, ham, hasha, kofyar, lijili, mada, mama, ninzam, numana-nunku-gwantu-numbu, nungu, tiv, toto, wapan, yeskwa. Major languages are Agatu, Basa, Eggon, Gbagyi, Gade, Goemai, Gwandara, Ham, Kofyar, and Lijili but the common language spoken among the people is Hausa.

26. Niger State
Niger State is a state in Central Nigeria and the largest state in the country. The state capital is Minna.

Language spoken: There are 38 languages spoken as first language in Niger State. Gbari, Gbagyi and Nupe are major languages. The other languages are minority languages, some of them extremely small and endangered. Basa-Kontagora is reported to be spoken by only ten people. Basa-Gumna is extinct.

27. Ogun State
Ogun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Created in 1976, it borders Lagos State to the south, Oyo and Osun states to the north, Ondo to the east and the Republic of Benin to the west. Abeokuta is the capital and largest city in the state.

Language spoken: The major language is Yoruba. Ogun however, has other dialects which include the following: Egba, Ijebu, Owu, Awori and Yewa.

28. Ondo State
Ondo or Ondo State is a state in Nigeria created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It originally included what is now Ekiti State, which was split off in 1996. Akure is the state capital.

Language spoken: The State is dominated by Yorubas who speak various dialects of the Yoruba language such as the Akoko, Akure, Apoi, Idanre, Ikale, Ilaje, Ondo and the Owo and a minority speaking the Ijaw Language.

29. Osun State
Osun is an inland state in south-western Nigeria. Its capital is Osogbo. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east partly by Ekiti State and partly by Ondo State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west by Oyo State.

Language spoken: The major ethnic group in Osun state is Yoruba with sub-ethnic groups such as Ife, Ijesha, Oyo, Ibolo and Igbomina and there are also people from other parts of Nigeria.

30. Oyo State
Oyo state is an inland state in south-western Nigeria, with its capital at Ibadan.

Language spoken: The Yoruba language is the major language spoken in Oyo state.

31. Plateau State
Plateau state is located in central Nigeria on an area of 26,899 square kilometres, with an estimated population of about three million people. Jos, the Plateau state capital is a very cosmopolitan city.

Language spoken: There are 48 languages spoken as first languages in Plateau State. Many of them are endangered due to the influence of Hausa. Major languages spoken in Plateau State are Angas, Berom, Goemai, Kofyar, Mwaghavul, Ron, and Tarok, each spoken by more than 100,000 people.

32. Rivers State
Rivers State, also known simply as Rivers, is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. According to census data released in 2006, the state has a population of 5,198,716, making it the sixth-most populous state in the country.

Language spoken: There are 23 languages spoken as first languages in Rivers State. The major languages are Igbo, Ikwere, Kalabari, Khana and different varieties of the Ijo cluster. The other languages are minority languages.

33. Sokoto State
Sokoto is located in the extreme northwest of Nigeria, near to the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River.

Language spoken: Sokoto State is predominantly a Fulani and Hausa state. It is populated by several Hausa subgroups such as the Gobirawa, the Zamfarawa, the Kabawa, the Adarawa and the Arawa, and the two main Fulani groups which are the Fulanin Gida or Town Fulani and the nomadic Fulani.

34. Taraba State
Taraba is a state in North Eastern Nigeria, named after the Taraba River which traverses the southern part of the state. Taraba’s capital is Jalingo.

Language spoken: Etkywan (Icen), Fulfulde, Jukun, Kpan, Mumuye, Samba Daka, Samba Leko, Tiv, and Yendang

35. Yobe State
Yobe is a state located in Northeast Nigeria. A mainly agricultural state, it was created on August 27, 1991. Yobe state was carved out of Borno State. The capital of Yobe state is Damaturu.

Language spoken: 1. Kanuri 2. Ngizim 3. Karai-Karai 4. Bolewa 5. Bade 6. Hausa 7. Ngamo 8. Shuwa 9. Fulani 10. Margi

36. Zamfara State
Zamfara is a state in northwestern Nigeria. Its capital is Gusau. Until 1996 the area was part of Sokoto State.
Language spoken: There are quite a number of tribes in Zamfara State. These include the majority Hausa, the Fulani, the Gbagyi and the Kamuku.

https://www.correctng.com/languages-spoken-in-each-of-the-36-states-in-nigeria-10/?fbclid=IwAR2CkzLFhpCXGmzqyE_IATwjD5Gk2TwdKDa3at5hzILyTSomNxCDycEgAC0

Osagyefo98:
Language is not tribe.


There are no Igbos in cross river and Bayelsa.

If there are such, prove it or let them come and say so.

Baliv254:
KDF flypast during mashujaa day celebrations 20th oct

WARTHUNDER:
Russian rival to American Apache helicopter, the Mi-35 M Hind E is Nigeria's most powerful, most sophisticated CT-COIN asset, NAF's pride.

Odunayaw:
Mi 35 Hind E? Mi-8 MT? Gazelle?
What did you drink?

Jimi24:
You are close.
You even left out militarized 2 BELL helicopters, one AW1XX from Presidential fleet with capacity to deploy countermeasures, a number of A109LUH ...but what is MI 35Hind E?

WARTHUNDER:
Anybody calling that NAF fleet list a cook up is totally militarily illiterate. Its open source published figures, if you cant find them like I did, it shows u dont know dis biz at all. Be a bit humble n learn, it helps. Am done giving u free tutorial.

WARTHUNDER:
Ma bros, doesnt matter you school at AFIT if you cannot count NAF birds u shld chop koboko . Operational # is air marshal info, I know NAF owns estimate 50 Mils among total 70 helos, 30 jets.

Mi-24 P Belarus 2
Mi-24 P Ukraine 4
Mi-24 V 1
Mi-24 P Russia 6
Mi-35 M 9
Mi-8 MT armed 10
Mi-35 Hind E new, to complete 12
SA-342 Gazelle 3
AW-109 Armed new, to complete 6
AS-332 Puma up armed not sure # say 3
EC-135 up armed not sure, say 6
CH-3 China armed drone 4
Estimate operational jets cuz we bought double # Alpha new 4, old 8, L-39 12, F-7 8.

98 aircraft, roughly 100 NAF fleet, me is right, you all owe me one cool beer each, buy me free Friday booze!!!

WARTHUNDER:
Bruz you dont know? Its not exaggeration, NAF has 70 helos 30 jets fleet. 50 Mi-24 n 35, 20 Puma, Agusta, Eurocopter, 30 Alpha, F-7, L-39, let's say 100 NAF combat aircraft to use on BH ISW.

shadowprimezero:
That was Nigér and not Nigeria. The reporter probably confused the two countries.

WARTHUNDER:
Bruz but NA says helicopters will win the war and finally finish Boko Haram.

WARTHUNDER:
The blood of 2,000 KIA Kurdish fighters and 10,000 WIA, defeated ISIS, not Iraqi army aviation. Helicopters will help but not the winning tool. We all read about that war, experts who witnessed the war tell the world Kurdish men on ground were main key to victory over ISIS not helicopters.

WARTHUNDER:
I have agreed boss, I said give NA the NAFs 6 new armed Agusta to see practical. I dont underestimate air power, I lecture its strategic benefit in school, just saying if 100 cannot win for 10 years 115 birds cannot win. ISIS was defeated by land forces not army aviation, thats another practical lesson my bruz.

WARTHUNDER:
My man I get it too, but super camp is a trench of large size, frontline is frontline. You said North East Nigeria is not urban theatre like Somalia? Sorry, are you a Nigeria at all So all 10 million people of N.E. live inside open empty sand desert? Maiduguri has no urban houses? You guys fit cause laughter on dis platform, no wonder somebody use uniform rank to confuse you easily No vex o, we free to disagree my bruz.

WARTHUNDER:
No, methinks it is wrong. As a career lecturer in a Think Tank Strategic Studies Institute I believe more helicopters for NA or NAF, will not end Boko Haram war. Nigeria spent a whopping $ 1 billion to buy 70 combat helicopters now deployed by NAF, as in 50 heavy armour heavy firepower Mi-24 & 35 Hinds, 20 armed Puma, EC 135, Agusta 109. If 70 helos cannot finish BHT in 10 years, it proves limitation of air power in a land war. If NA cannot beat BHT on land, something's wrong with NA fighting capability and thats what Senate must spend money to correct by getting long range night vision equipment, land based ISR, HESCO base walls, capable cheap AFV like 23mm x 2 MT-LB or fast agile light tanks e.g. VT-5 high speed, long range night vision combat enabled mini-tanks.

ISWAP BHT attacks mostly at night, armed helicopters cannot I.D. own troops from terrorists, the Black Hawk Down real life movie shows US Army helicopters pilots kept saying no target I.D, it's very hard to identify own troops from enemies at night.

NA is boldly repeating it`s army aviation helicopters will be parked beside tanks, Jeeps, troops, all together inside a trench! Wow! Never seen such anywhere. Black Hawk down proves armed helicopters are not solution to defeat land based insurgency. Watch that real life movie again in full as the war happened in Somalia, estimating numbers, 20 well armed helicopters gave close air support for 24 hours to 100 elite US Army troops, best soldiers worldwide, 2 helicopters were shot down without any SAM missile. 20 helos could not save two platoons size 100 soldiers, until the US Army General begged the Pakistani army to send in 15 AFV of 2 tanks, 13 APCs and what 20 great combat helicopters failed to do for 24 hours air support, the 15 armoured vehicles completed the job in 2 hours saving all soldiers back to base. Somali insurgents wasted ammo, no AFVs was lost while 2 helicopters were shot down and other 27 helicopters ran away when the US General said "I cannot risk another loss of helicopter. Tell the Pakistani General to help us send AFV or else 100 American soldiers will be dead in body bags soon." I am just saying this in the best interest of our army.

jteku:
Most of them are not serviceable now

Odunayaw:
OG07

Odunayaw:
okay. Mine (67) was 21

Odunayaw:
Am not sure I understand

Odunayaw:
Not so.
NA,NN; 17-21yrs
NAF; 17yrs

Jimi24:
Army aviation is very necessary. It is the missing capability in the theatre. Its not about the hardware or even the operating procedures. It is a force multiplier and morale booster. NAF will never provide enough CAS capability to cope with an insugency. It wont happen. The two forces will always work in silos.

Army aviation is a ground based capability operating from the air. It is intimate to operations launched at the company or battalion level.

No army aviator will leave trapped comrades running out of ammo and encircled by Boko Haram. Why would he?. He was exchanging stories and jokes with those guys just yesterday.
The General who said "the Chopper will be there with us in the trench" was 100% doctrinally correct. He and people who know understood what he meant.

Patrols, cordons and search, area denials, recce, resupply, et.c are that much easier with Army Aviation. I actually advocate the transfer of the six new MI 35s being expected to Army aviation. This is because airlifting of IFVs are a secondary capability required to kill BHT/ISWAP quickly

ugo4u:
Yes, you can. They do train some DSSC officers for Pilot training. Even CAS is a DSSC officer.

bidexiii:
Are you sure.....?

Toju200:
I'm aspiring to become a NAF pilot..is it possible to become one without enter defense academy..

nemesis8u:
Baba u blame the wrong guy

I specifically said " if ATGMs r a requirement " and then gave my personal opinion on what type of atgm is the best option.

If u r worried about weapons being captured then what's the point in arming the soldiers abeg ?

nemesis8u:
Regarding helicopter shoot down

Well a war zone of full of surprises , even then one cannot take a few exceptions to be the norm. That would be foolhardy.

ATGMs r of different types which makes them suitable or unsuitable for unconventional warfare.

In a unconventional war the hostilities rely mainly on ambush and hit and run tactics . They present a target for a few seconds before they disappear. They have the luxury of choosing the terrain and vegetation to suit their needs and put the other side at a disadvantage.

Eg u cannot fire wire guided ATGMS or laser guided ATGMs through vegetation becz the guidance wire will get sagged in the bushes and laser beams will get disrupted.

Also MCLOS/SACLOS type of missiles u referred to are not fire and forgot ATGMs.

They require to be set up and need a clear LOS view and requires profiency on the part of the crew to obtain desired efficiency. % of success will vary considerably especially against small sized fast moving targets.

Also warheads of ATGMs are intended for armoured targets and hence many a times don't function optimally again soft skinned targets like technicals.

Then there is the OODA loop ( observe orient decide act ) , I will not make it complicated , so simplistically speaking one needs to detect the target before he can act. Does NA have the system's in hand to preemptive any ambush or attack . Without corresponding situational awareness corresponding firepower will suffer shortfalls.

But nevertheless these types can be used for defence of fixed positions like FOBs provided they r located properly and have a unobstructed LOS and all vegetation / foliage has been removed from the designated fire zones surrounding the FOBs.

Only IIR based fire and forget ATGMs offers a higher kill probability . It rectifies all the deficiencies of the above systems but costs higher.

If ATGMs r a requirement then IMO what u guys need is something like mini spike or something in its category and functionality.

Jimi24:
You also need to engineer the super camps properly. Hardened or semi buried shelters for quick deployment of army choppers. There is no EU made chopper that can do this job, I know NA is buying AS 350s but only American choppers like hueys have the rugged engines and airframe to do this job.

Xbee007:
And this article was published today, wow.

If Nigerian Army can sustain it, they should get the money then.
They can go for something small like the MD 530F helicopter. A dozen or two should do.

kikuyu2:
Definitely! Also to avoid inter arms delays requesting support across service lines from Army to AF you need your own CAS capability. At least 2 squadrons of cheap,easy maintenance,light attack gunships in an army unit like the 50 Aircav we have here in 3 squadrons,a mix of 500 MDs and 530 Fs,36 in number. Operating in pairs they can put serious hurt on uglies with their .50 BMGs and 2.75 inch rockets.