There are many traditional states in Nigeria. A partial list follows. Although the traditional rulers no longer officially have political power, they still have considerable status in Nigeria and the power of patronage. Except where otherwise noted, names of traditional rulers are based on the World Statesmen.org list. State Region Ethnic group Capital Present ruler Accession date Title NotesAbuja Now the Suleja Emirate Aboh Kingdom South South Igbo Aboh Dr Greg Nnamdi Oputa 2024 Obi Abureni Kingdom Southsouth Ogbia-Ijaw Iduma Collins Ebi Daniel 2008 Olila-Ebhugh Adamawa North Fulani Yola Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa 2010 Lamido Adara Chiefdom Middle Belt Adara Kachia Maiwada Galadima 2007 Agom Adara Ado-Odo Southwest Yoruba Ado-Odo Olusola Idris Osolo Otenibotemole II 2024 Olofin Adimula Oodua Formerly Oba of Ado Agaie North Nupe Agaie Yussuf Nuhu 2014 Etsu Agbor South Igbo Agbor Benjamin Ikechukwu Kiagborekuzi I 1979 Dein Anyama Clan Southsouth Ogbia-Ijaw Anyama-Ogbia King Theophilus Omie Obanobhan Anyama Clan also known as Anyama District made up of 17 communities Anyama-Ogbia Kingdom Southsouth Ogbia-Ijaw Anyama Town Vacant (held by the House of Okori, in the Obih-Adih Royal Dynasty of Anyama-Ogbia) Obenema Anyama-Ogbia is the headquarters of Anyama ClanAke Southwest Yoruba Abeokuta Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III 2005 Alake Part of the confederation of Egbaland Akure Southwest Yoruba Akure Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi 2015 Deji Akwa Akpa Southeast Ibibio Calabar Bassey Ekpo Bassey II 2008 Edidem Atyap Chiefdom Middle Belt Atyap Zangon Kataf Dominic Yahaya 2016 Agwatyap or Agwam Atyap Badagry South West Gunu/Yoruba Badagry De Wheno-Aholu-Menu-Toyi 1 1977 Oba Akran of Badagry Bade North Bade Gashua Abubakar Umar Suleiman 2005 Mai Bade Bajju Chiefdom Middle Belt Bajju Zonkwa Nuhu Bature 1995 Agwam Bajju Bashar State North Basharawa Bashar Adamu Idris 1963 Sarki Bauchi North Gera/Fulani Bauchi Rilwanu Adamu Jumba 2010 Emir Benin South Edo Benin City Ewuare II 2016 Oba Bichi North Hausa Bichi Nasiru Ado Bayero 2019 Emir Bida North Nupe Bida Yahaya Abubakar 2003 Etsu Biu North BuraBiu Mustapha Umar Mustapha II 2020 Emir Birnin Gwari North Gwari/Hausa Birnin Gwari Zubairu Jibrin Mai Gwari II 1993 Emir Bonny South Ijaw Bonny Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekunle IX 1996 Amanayanabo Also called Okolo-Ama Borgu Middle Belt Bariba New Bussa Muhammad Haliru Dantoro Kitoro IV 2015 Emir Formed by merging Bussa and Kaiama Borno North Kanuri Maiduguri Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi 2009 Shehu Brass South-south Ijaw Brass, Nigeria King Alfred Diete-Spiff Amanayanabo Once part of Nembe Bussa See Borgu Bwari/Bwaya Kingdom Middle belt Gbagyi/Gwari Bwari/Bwaya Kingdom Ibrahim Yaro 2007 Esu Calabar (Old) see Akwa Akpa Calabar (New) see Kalabari Kingdom Damaturu North Kanuri Damaturu Hashimi II El-Kanemi Emir Daura North Hausa/Fulani Daura Faruk Umar Faruk 2007 Emir Dikwa North Kanuri Dikwa Mohammed Masta II Ibn Alamin El-Kanemi 2010 Shehu Divided into Bama and Dikwa Emirates in 2010 Ebira Middle Belt Igbirra Koton Karifi Shuaibu Mamman Lafiya 1970 Ohimegye Ebiraland Middle Belt Ebira Okene Ahmed Tijane Anaje 2024 Ohinoyi Edem South East Igbo Edem Nwabueze Annekwempaha Ezea II July 2009 Eze Edem The king's traditional salutation is Agaba-Idu. Formerly known as Christopher Nwabueze Ezea II, he took a regnal name on the anniversary of his decennial on the throne. Edo See Benin Eko see Lagos Ekpeye KingdomSouthsouthIgboEkpeyeRobinson Okpoluwon Robinson CON1978Eze Ekpeyelogbo Eri Southeast Igbo Aguleri Chukwuemeka Eri, Ezeora XXXIV 1976 Eze Eri The Custodian of the Sacred Ovo Eri Fantswam (Kafanchan) Chiefdom Middle Belt Atyap Kafanchan Josiah Kantiyok 2019 Agwam Fantswam Renamed "Zikpak Chiefdom" by the Kaduna State governor, Nasir Elrufai Fika North Bole Potiskum Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa 2009 Moi Distinct from the Potiskum Emirate, also based in Potiskum Gobir North Hausa/Fulani Sabon Birni Sarkin Originally a Hausa city-state, conquered by the Fulani in the 19th century Gombe North Fulani Gombe Abubakar Shehu Abubakar 2014 Modibo Gujba Emirate North KanuriGujba Mai Muktar Ibn Ali Gangaram 2000 Emir Formerly part of the Kanem Bornu Empire Gumel North Hausa/Fulani and Kanuri Gumel Lawan Ahmed Muhammad Sani 2026 Emir Gusau North Hausa/Fulani Gusau Muhammadu Kabir Danbaba 1997 Emir or Sarkin Katsina The rulers of Katsina and Maradi also use the title "Sarkin Katsina" Gwandu North Hausa/Fulani Gwandu Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar Emir Hadejia North Hausa/Fulani Hadejia Adamu Abubakar Maje 2002 Emir Ham (Jaba) Chiefdom Middle Belt Ham Kwoi Jonathan Gyet Maude 1974 Kpop Ham Ibadan Kingdom Southwest Yoruba Ibadan Rasheed Ladoja 2025 Olubadan Idah see Igala Idoani Southwest Yoruba Idoani Olufemi Olutoye 2014 Alani Idoma Kingdom Middle Belt Idoma Otukpo Elias Ikoyi Obekpa Och'Idoma IV Och'Idoma Igala Middle Belt Igala Idah Idakwo Ameh Oboni II 2012 Attah Igbomina Kingdom Middle Belt Yoruba Omu-Aran Abdulraheem Oladele Adeoti (Olomu Efon II) 1993 Olomu Related to the Igbomina state in general Ijebu Kingdom Southwest Yoruba Ijebu Ode Awujale Ijebu-Remo Southwest Yoruba Sagamu Babatunde Adewale Ajayi 2017 Akarigbo See also Ijebu Kingdom, List of rulers of Remo Ijesaland see Ilesa Ikale Kingdom Southwest Yoruba Ikoya Ikale George Faduyile, Adegun ll 1998 Abodi Paramount Rulers of Ikale land Okitipupa, Irele and Odigbo local government Ikateland Kingdom Southwest Yoruba Lagos Alayeluwa Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla II 27 April 2010 Oba House of Kusenla Ile Ife Southwest Yoruba Ife Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II 2015 Ooni One of the two ranking Yoruba monarchs Ilesa Kingdom Southwest Yoruba Ilesa Clement Adeyusi Haastrup 2024 Owa Ilorin Middle Belt Yoruba/Fulani Ilorin Ibrahim Sulu Gambari Emir Ipokia Kingdom Southwest Yoruba Ipokia Raufu Oladeinde Adetunji Adeole Onigbaale III 1985 Onipokia Iroko Kingdom Southwest Yoruba Iroko Olasunkanmi Abioye Opeola, Kurunloju I 2011 Oniroko Isedo Southwest Yoruba Ila Orangun Oyedeji Ajide Obalumo Related to the Isedo Clan (with its own Obalumo) of the Igbomina state of Oke Ila Orangun Isinkan Southwest Yoruba Isinkan Iralepo Itele Southwest Yoruba Itele, Ijebu-East Mufutau Adesanya Kasali Iboriaran I 2003 Moyegeso See also Ijebu Kingdom, Jones Adenola Ogunde Adeyoruwa II reigned until 1996 Itsekiri see Kingdom of Warri Jajere Emirate North Fulani Tarmuwa Hamza Mai Buba Ibn Isa Mashio 2000 Emir, Mai, Lamido or Sarkin Jajere divided into Jajere & Ngelzarma Emirates Jama'are Emirate North Hausa/Fulani Jama'are Muhammadu Wabi IV dan Muhammadu Wabi 1975 Emir Jema'a Emirate Middle Belt Hausa/Fulani Jema'a Muhammadu dan Isa 1999 Emir Jos Middle belt Berom Jos Jacob Gyang Buba 2009 Gbong Gwom Jukun see Wukari Kagara Emirate Kagoro Middle Belt Hausa/Fulani Atyap Kagoro Alhaji Ahmad Garba Gunna Attahiru II Ufuwai Bonet 2021 2008 Emir Agwam AgworokA diarchy Kaiama Merged with Bussa into Borgu Kalabari Southsouth Ijaw Buguma Amanyanabo Kano North Hausa/Fulani Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II 2024 Emir Karu Kingdom Middle Belt Gbagyi/Gwari Karu Luka Panya Baba 2004 Esu Katagum North Fulani/Kanuri Katagum Umar Muhammadu Kabir Umar 2017 Emir Katsina North Hausa/Fulani Katsina Abdulmumini Kabir Usman 2008 Emir or Sarkin Katsina The rulers of Gusau and Maradi also use the title "Sarkin Katsina" Kazaure North Hausa/Fulani Kazaure Najib Husaini Adamu Emir Keana Chiefdom Middle Belt Agatu Keana Abdullahi Amegwa 2016 Osana of Keana Kebbi North Hausa/Fulani Birnin Kebbi Sama'ila Muhammad Mera 1996 Amir Argungu Keffi Emirate Middle Belt Hausa/Fulani Keffi Muhammadu Cindo Yamusa II Emir Kontagora Middle Belt Hausa/Fulani Kontagora Muhammad Bara'u Mu'azu 2021 Sarkin Sudan KumbwadaNiger StateHajiya Haidzatu Ahmed1998 QueenKupaMiddle BeltKupa/NupeAbugiMuhammadu Kabiru Isah II1967Maiyaki Lafia North Kanuri Lafia Sidi Bage 2019 Emir Sarkin Lafia Lafiagi Emirate Middle Belt Nupe Lafiagi Mohammed Kudu Kawu 2021 Etsu Fulani jihad state founded 1824 Lagos Southwest Yoruba Lagos Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu I 2003 Oba Formerly known as Eko Lapai Middle Belt Nupe Lapai Umaru Bago Tafida 2002 Etsu Lere Middle Belt Lere Umaru Mohammed Sani Emir Machina North Manga Machina Bashir Albishir Bukar Emir Misau Emirate North Kanuri/Fulani Misau Ahmed Suleiman 2015 Emir Moroa Middle Belt Atyap Manchok Agwam Asholyio Mubi Emirate Middle Belt Mubi Abu Bakar Isa Ahmadu Emir Muri Taraba Middle Belt Hausa/Fulani Muri Taraba Abbas Tafida 1988 Emir Nasarawa Emirate Middle Belt Hausa/FulaniNasarawa Ibrahim Usman Jibril 2018 Emir Nembe Southsouth Ijaw Nembe Edmund Maduabebe Daukoru, Mingi XII 2008 Amanyanabo Nembe Bassambiri Southsouth Ijaw Bassambiri Amanyanabo Ningi North Hausa/Fulani Ningi Yunusa Muhammad Danyaya 2024 Chief Nnewi Southeast Igbo Nnewi Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III 1963 Igwe Nri Southeast Igbo Agukwu Enweleana II Obidiegwo Onyeso 1988 Eze Nri Holder of the highest and most revered ofo in Igboland, the Ofo Nri-Menri. Obioko Kingdom Southeast Obioko Ekpo Eyo Abassi Eyo III 2008 Obong Ogbia Kingdom Southsouth Ogbia-Ijaw Ogbia Town Charles Dumaro Owaba, Obanobhan III 2017 Obanobhan Oke Ila Kingdom Southwest Yoruba Oke Ila Olufemi Oladapo Babalola Obalumo Related to the Igbomina state of Isedo Oke-Ona Egba Southwest Yoruba Abeokuta Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso Karunwi III 1989 Oshile Part of the confederation of Egbaland Okolo-Ama Otherwise known as Bonny since colonial times Okpe South-South Urhobo Orerokpe Orhue I 2006 Orodje Okrika Southeast Okrika Alfred Semenitari Abam Ado IX 2002 Amanyanabo Ondo Southwest Yoruba Ondo Adesimbo Victor Kiladejo 2006 Osemawe Onitsha Southeast Igbo Onitsha Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe 2002 Obi Orlu Southeast Igbo Orlu Patrick II Acholonu 2009 Igwe XI, Duru IX Oshogbo Southwest Yoruba Oshogbo Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun 2010 Ataoja Owerri Southeast Igbo Owerri Emmanuel E. Njemanze 1989 Ozuruigbo Owo Southwest Yoruba Owo Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III 2019 Olowo Owu Southwest Yoruba Abeokuta Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu II 2005 Olowu Part of the confederation of Egbaland Oyo Southwest Yoruba Oyo Abimbola Akeem Owoade 2025 Alaafin One of the two ranking Yoruba monarchs Pategi Middle Belt Nupe Pategi Umar Bologi II 2019 Etsu Potiskum North Ngizim Potiskum Umar Bubaram Emir Not to be confused with the Fika Emirate, based in the same town RanoNorthHausa/Fulani Sokoto North Hausa/Fulani Sokoto Sa'adu Abubakar 2006 Sultan See also List of sultans of Sokoto Suleja Middle Belt Hausa/Fulani Suleja Awwal Ibrahim 2000 Sarkin Zazzau Formerly Abuja Emirate Tiv Middle belt Tiv Gboko James Ayatse 2016 Tor Tiv Tula Chiefdom Middle Belt Tula Kaltungo, Gombe Abubakar Buba Atare II 2009 Mai Ubani see Bonny Ugbo-Igbo Southeast Igbo Ugbo town Godwin Ebem Udeonu October 1978 Igwe Ugbo Kingdom Southwest Yoruba Ilaje Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan 2009 Olugbo Ughelli Kingdom Southsouth Urhobo Otovowodo Ajuwe Oharisi III 1992 Ovie Uvwie Southsouth Urhobo Effurun Abe I 2008 Ovie Warri Southsouth Itsekiri Ode-Itsekiri Ogiame Atuwatse III 2021 Olu Olu of Warri. See also kingdom of Warri 1478 Wase Muhammadu Sambo Haruna October 2010 Emir Fulani Emirate Wukari Middle Belt Jukun Wukari Manu Ishaku Ada Ali 28 January 2022 Aku Uka Yauri North Hausa/Fulani Yauri Muhammad Zayyanu Sarkin Zamfara Emirate North Hausa/Fulani Gusau Muhammad Attahiru Ahmad Sarkin Zaria Alternate name for Zazzau Emirate Zazzau North Hausa/Fulani Zaria Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli 2020 Sarkin The ruler of the Suleja Emirate also uses the title "Sarkin Zazzau"
See also Nigerian Chieftaincy Nigerian traditional rulers
References