Top 10 Largest Local Government In Nigeria (2024)

Across Nigeria’s federation, there are a total of seven hundred and seventy-four LGA among which we have the largest local government in Nigeria. Some of this 774 local governments Area that is spread across all thirty-six states of Nigeria solely depends on the federal government to cater for the needs, while other ones are financially buoyant enough to meet the needs of its residents since they have sources of income to earn a living, or maybe they have more than one resources.

The largest local government in Nigeria is Obio-Akpor local government in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Obio-Akpor has over 464,789 population/inhabitants according to the last population census.

Local government is another alternative for the municipality of an industry.  It is regarded as the third tier of government that receives instruction from the state which is the legislative arm of government. There is a total number of seven hundred and seventy-four local governments that are spread across the thirty-six states in the federation.

TOP 10 LARGEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA

Below is a list of the Top Ten Biggest Local Government Areas in The Federation;

  • 1. Obio-Akpor, Port Harcourt:

The capital city of Rivers State in Port Harcourt which also is the largest city in the state. The total estimated population of the residents living in the city of Port Harcourt is 1,865,000 inhabitants. The two local government that is situated in this city are Eleme and Obio Akpor local governments. It was created in 1912. The government House and the   Port Harcourt International Airport are the two biggest metropolia in the city.

Obio Akpor, on the other hand, was founded in the month of May 3rd, 1989. The Obio Akpor Local Government Council is the governing body of this local government. Its estimated population is 464,789 inhabitants from the population census exercise conducted in the year 2006. This is one of the largest local governments in Port Harcourt that lies between the Niger Delta, and also a local government where all the economic activities are carried out. The headquarter of this local government is at Rumuodomaya. The Nkweere people are the main dweller’s inhabitants of this local government because they own it.

The townships, localities, and then suburbs inside this local government are: 

Atoli, Egbelu, Alakahia, Eliozu, Choba, Eligbam, Mgbuoba, Alabama, Mgbuesilaru, Nkpa, Oro – Igwe, Elelenwo, Rumooto, Rumuola, Rumuokwuta, Trans Amadi, Rumuosi, Rumuokparahi, Mgbuosimini, Mkpukuche,
Rumuesara, Rumuokoro, Rumudogo, Rukpuokwu, Rumumomoi, Rumuibekwe, and Rumuokwachi.

  • 2. Ikeja, Lagos State 

Lagos state is one of the states that is inside Nigeria which is located in the Southwestern region of Nigeria and has boundaries with the Republic of Benin on the west, Ogun state by the east, and on the south is the Atlantic Ocean. It was created in the month of May 27th, 1967. It has twenty local governments with Ikeja as its capital.  Economic-wise, Lagos State has a strong economy which made it be the center of financial settings.

The location for the two main live music in Lagos State by the name “Lagbaja’s Motherland” and the famous “Femi Kuti’s Africa Shrine” are all situated in Ikeja. This city was established in the year 1980 before coming on board the military rule in Nigeria. The largest mail that is within Lagos Mainland by name Ikeja City Mall is inside Ikeja.

There are many pharmacies, very conducive residential houses, Government Reservation Areas, shopping malls, a public town that is well planned and neat in Ikeja. 181,300 inhabitants are the estimated population from the last population census exercise conducted. Ikeja has a total land area of 49.92km.

Economically, Ikeja is the city where many Airlines have their headquarters because of the existence of Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Examples of such Airlines are Virgin Atlantic, ADC Airlines, Aero Contractors, Associated Aviation, Belleview Airlines, Sosoliso Airlines, Air Nigeria, and others.

  • 3. Kurmi, Taraba State

Taraba state is the 30th state in alphabetical order of the thirty-six states in Nigeria. It got its name from that famous River that passes through a southeastern region of Nigeria by the name Taraba River. Taraba state is the third most populous state in Nigeria in terms of land area. The capital town of this state is Jalingo. The estimated population of the residents in Taraba state is 2,294,800 while its total land area is 21,032. This state was created on August 27th, 1991.

The third-largest local government in Nigeria by population, Kurmi was created in the year 1996. It has its headquarter at Baissa.  Kurmi is the local government that is Taraba state. The total land area of Kurmi Local Government is 1,681 square meters. From the 2006 population census exercise conducted, the estimated population of residents in this local government is 91,531 inhabitants.

This local government has boundaries with Donga at the North-West, Bali LGA by the North, the Republic of Cameroon by the South-South, West by Ussa LGA, and then on the North East lies Sardauna.

The Baissa Timber Development Corporation that was abandoned by the state government is located in the Kurmi Local government that produces high quality and good timber. The three major tribes in the Kurmi local governments are Tigun, Ndola, and Itchen tribes.

This local government is as well blessed with diverse natural resources which comprise precious stones which are Waterfalls, Gen Stones, Mountains, and Forest.

  • 4. Etinan Local Government, Akwa Ibom 

Akwa Ibom is located in the South-South region of Nigeria. It was created on 27th September 1989. It has a land area of 2,734 square meters. It has boundaries with Rivers State, Cross River state, and the Atlantic Ocean at various locations. Its total estimated population according to the 2006 population census exercise conducted is over five million inhabitants. There is a construction of seaport Ibaku Season which is located at Oron. There is a modern football stadium in this state with two seaports.

Etinan local government is situated in Akwa Ibom state which is the most oil-producing state of Nigeria that is within the geographical zone of South-South. Glass, sharp sand, clay, and sand are the mineral resources that this local government is blessed with and cassava, palm products, and yam are its agricultural products. Udua Etinan is the main prestigious market of Etinan and also its headquarters.

  • 5. Esan Central-Local Government 

The fifth-largest local government in Nigeria has a land area of 253 km. The postal code of Esan Central local government is 310117. It has an estimated population of 103, 510 inhabitants as recorded in the population census exercise conducted in 2006. It is a local government situated in Edo State. Its major cities are Ewu, Ugbegun, Irrua, Opoli, Igueven, Ewosa, and Ebelle cities.

  • 6. Dekina Local Government 

The southeast of Dekina local government has a longitudinal and latitudinal line of northeasterly to pass through. From the last population census conducted, 260,312 is its estimated population inhabitants. Its total land area is 950 square meters.

  • 7. Toro Local Governments 

The seventh-largest local government in Nigeria has a total land area of Toro LGA is 6,932 km. 740 is the postal code of Toro. Hausa, Fulfulde, Ribina, and Jawara are some visible languages spoken inside and an outer region of Toro LGA. It is the local government that is inside Bauchi State. The population estimate of residents in Toro local government from the population census exercise conducted in 2006 is 350,404 inhabitants.

  • 8. Lagos Island 

This local government is located in Lagos state which is in the central region of Lagos State. Its total land area is 8.7 km. It is one of the biggest local governments in Nigeria with a total population of the resident at 209,437 according to information provided by the 2006 population census exercise.

Economically, Lagos Island can boast of the following large-scale businesses and medium ones such as electrical appliances, retail stores, real estate consulting firms, and manufacturers; also, the locations of Head Offices of these banks by name United States of Africa and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

  • 9. Kano Municipal Central Local Government 

The western door of the Emir’s place called the Kafar Kudu is where Kano Municipal Central Local government is situated. While its total land area   Is seven square meters. 365,525 is its estimated population of inhabitants; source from the population census exercise conducted in 2006.

  • 10. Karo Local Government 

These Karo urban centers, which is the tenth-largest local government in Nigeria, have their boundaries being extended to Abuja though it is situated in Nasarawa state. Its total land area is 200 square meters and has a population estimate of 2,000,000 inhabitants. It is the center for economic activities due to the high considerations of public banks. Its major towns are New Karo, Masaka, New Nyanya, Ado, Kuruduma, and Maraba towns.

Still On The Largest Local Government In Nigeria

NIGERIA AS A COUNTRY:

Nigeria is one of the western countries that are inside Africa. Nigeria got its freedom from England in the month of October 1960. This country is blessed with an abundant natural resource which some of which are petroleum and petroleum products which is among the top exporter of it to other nations, apart from petroleum and petroleum products, Nigeria is also blessed with cocoa, rubber, coal, and others.

There are many tribes within Nigeria but the prominent ones among them are Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba tribes. Nigeria derives its name from the largest River across west Africa that runs across it by the name River Niger and the name was given by Lord Lugard. The Federal Territory of Abuja is the capital state of Nigeria.  Most of the consumable products used in Nigeria are mainly imported from other countries.

THE KEY FACTORS BEHIND THE RICH STATUS OF THESE TEN TOP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN NIGERIA:

The main factors while these ten local government areas in Nigeria are considered the largest and wealthiest Local Governments in Nigeria are because of the following points listed below.

  1. Income Source: The 774 Local Governments in Nigeria that are spread across the Federation base on the income or resources they can source from. The income these top wealthiest Local Governments can easily source lies on the rate of tax they levied and collected from the residents mainly their businesses in that particular area. It also hinges on making the people residing there to be very comfortable just by making available a good transportation system which in turn yields income to the government.
    These top wealthiest Local Government also source their income from the advertisements by the business owners and also from good recommendations from the state government. There is an increased investment in these selected largest local governments in the federation because of the provision of a good road network, public and private vehicle licenses governments, and the private assessment of houses.
  1. Level of Education: The selected biggest Local Governments in Nigeria are different from others because their residents can easily have access to the educational sector.
  2. Pension Amount: The amount of pension paid to its retirees not forgetting the number of opportunities they can easily fit themselves with after retiring from the work engagement is also yet another point that these Ten Biggest Local governments in the federation.
  3. The rate of Employment: Knowing fully well that the high rate of unemployment has an adverse effect on the economy which implies low income for the Local Government provides a conducive government for the people to run their businesses.  
  4. Resources: As said before, those local governments that are considered to be outstanding among the 774 local governments have two or more resources which are natural resources and human resources which team up to increase their financial status rather than looking up to the state government for assistance.
  5. Public Services: The government services can be good rood network, good health services, access to quality education, quality power supply, good water, and other necessary things are the things that make any local government bigger provided the residents can easily have access to it.

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CONCLUSION ON THE LARGEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA

Now that the top ten biggest local government areas in Nigeria have been listed and explained exponentially, the ones that are not mentioned should strive to be on the list.