List of Languages in Nigeria and their States.
Nigeria is a country with one of the most diversed cultures with multiple ethnic groups and languages which number in hundreds. Some ethnic groups are more popular than others and hence, the languages more commonly spoken. The 3 most commonly spoken languages in Nigeria are Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. Most people commonly mistake these 3 languages as the only languages spoken in Nigeria.
In this article, we would be taking a look at the list of languages in Nigeria and their states.
List of Languages in Nigeria and their States.
- Abayon – Cross River
- Abua (Odual) –Rivers
- Achipa (Achipawa) –Kebbi
- Adim -Cross River
- Adun -Cross River
- Affade –Yobe
- Afizere –Plateau
- Afo –Plateau
- Agbo -Cross River
- Akaju-Ndem (Akajuk) -Cross River
- Akweya-Yachi –Benue
- Alago (Arago) –Plateau
- Amo –Plateau
- Anaguta -Plateau
- Anang -Akwa lbom
- Andoni -Akwa lbom, Rivers
- Angas -Bauchi, Jigawa, Plateau
- Ankwei –Plateau
- Anyima -Cross River
- Attakar (ataka) –Kaduna
- Auyoka (Auyokawa) -Jigawa
- Awori -Lagos, Ogun
- Ayu –Kaduna
- Babur -Adamawa, Bomo, Taraba, Yobe
- Bachama -Adamawa
- Bachere -Cross River
- Bada –Plateau
- Bade -Yobe
- Bahumono -Cross River
- Bakulung -Taraba
- Bali -Taraba
- Bambora (Bambarawa) –Bauchi
- Bambuko -Taraba
- Banda (Bandawa) -Taraba
- Banka (Bankalawa) -Bauchi
- Banso (Panso) –Adamawa
- Bara (Barawa) –Bauchi
- Barke –Bauchi
- Baruba (Barba) –Niger
- Bashiri (Bashirawa) –Plateau
- Bassa -Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Plateau
- Batta –Adamawa
- Baushi –Niger
- Baya –Adamawa
- Bekwarra -Cross River
- Bele (Buli, Belewa) -Bauchi
- Betso (Bete) -Taraba
- Bette -Cross River
- Bilei –Adamawa
- Bille –Adamawa
- Bina (Binawa) -Kaduna
- Bini –Edo
- Birom –Plateau
- Bobua –Taraba
- Boki (Nki) -Cross River
- Bkkos –Plateau
- Boko (Bussawa, Bargawa) –Niger
- Bole (Bolewa) -Bauchi, Yobe
- Botlere -Adamawa
- Boma (Bomawa, Burmano) -Bauchi
- Bomboro -Bauchi
- Buduma -Borno, Niger
- Buji -Plateau
- Buli -Bauchi
- Bunu –Kogi
- Bura –Adamawa
- Burak -Bauchi
- Burma (Burmawa) -Plateau
- Buru -Yobe
- Buta (Butawa) -Bauchi
- Bwall –Plateau
- Bwatiye -Adamawa
- Bwazza -Adamawa
- Challa –Plateau
- Chama (Chamawa Fitilai) –Bauchi
- Chamba -Taraba
- Chamo –Bauchi
- Chibok (Chibbak) -Yobe
- Chinine –Borno
- Chip –Plateau
- Chokobo –Plateau
- Chukkol –Taraba
- Daba –Adamawa
- Dadiya –Bauchi
- Daka –Adamawa
- Dakarkari -Niger, Kebbi
- Danda (Dandawa) -Kebbi
- Dangsa –Taraba
- Daza (Dere, Derewa) –Bauchi
- Degema –Rivers
- Deno (Denawa) –Bauchi
- Dghwede -Bomo
- Diba –Taraba
- Doemak (Dumuk) –Plateau
- Ouguri –Bauchi
- Duka (Dukawa) –Kebbi
- Duma (Dumawa) –Bauchi
- Ebana (Ebani) –Rivers
- Ebirra (lgbirra) -Edo, Kogi, Ondo
- Ebu -Edo, Kogi
- Efik -Cross River
- Egbema –Rivers
- Egede (lgedde) –Benue
- Eggon -Plateau
- Egun (Gu) -Lagos,Ogun
- Ejagham -Cross River
- Ekajuk -Cross River
- Eket -Akwa Ibom
- Ekoi -Cross River
- Engenni (Ngene) –Rivers
- Epie -Rivers
- Esan (Ishan) –Edo
- Etche –Rivers
- Etolu (Etilo) –Benue
- Etsako -Edo
- Etung -Cross River
- Etuno –Edo
- Palli –Adamawa
- Pulani (Pulbe) -Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa , Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi , Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, etc.
- Fyam (Fyem) -Plateau
- Fyer(Fer) -Plateau
- Ga’anda -Adamawa
- Gade –Niger
- Galambi -Bauchi
- Gamergu-Mulgwa -Borno
- Qanawuri –Plateau
- Gavako –Borno
- Gbedde -Kogi
- Gengle –Taraba
- Geji –Bauchi
- Gera (Gere, Gerawa) –Bauchi
- Geruma (Gerumawa) -Plateau
- Geruma (Gerumawa) –Bauchi
- Gingwak -Bauchi
- Gira –Adamawa
- Gizigz –Adamawa
- Goernai –Plateau
- Gokana (Kana) –Rivers
- Gombi –Adamawa
- Gornun (Gmun) -Taraba
- Gonia -Taraba
- Gubi (Gubawa) -Bauchi
- Gude –Adamawa
- Gudu –Adamawa
- Gure -Kaduna
- Gurmana –Niger
- Gururntum -Bauchi
- Gusu -Plateau
- Gwa (Gurawa) –Adamawa
- Gwamba Adamawa
- Gwandara -Kaduna, Niger, Plateau
- Gwari (Gbari) -Kaduna, Niger, Abuja, Plateau
- Gwom -Taraba
- Gwoza (Waha) –Borno
- Gyem –Bauchi
- Hausa: -Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna,Kano, Kastina, Kebbi, Niger,Taraba, Sokoto, Zamfara etc
- Higi (Hig) -Borno, Adamawa
- Holma -Adamawa
- Hona -Adamawa
- Ibeno -Akwa lbom
- Ibibio -Akwa lbom
- Ichen –Adamawa
- Idoma -Benue, Taraba
- Igalla -Kogi
- lgbo: -Abia, Anambra, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Rivers
- ljumu -Kogi
- Ikom-Cross River
- Ikwerre – Rivers
- Irigwe –Plateau
- Isoko –Delta
- lsekiri (Itsekiri) -Delta
- lyala (lyalla) -Cross River
- lzondjo -Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo, Rivers
- Jaba -Kaduna
- Jahuna (Jahunawa) –Taraba
- Jaku -Bauchi
- Jara (Jaar Jarawa Jarawa-Dutse) -Bauchi
- Jere (Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa) -Bauchi, Plateau
- Jero –Taraba
- Jibu –Adamawa
- Jidda-Abu -Plateau
- Jimbin (Jimbinawa) -Bauchi
- Jirai –Adamawa
- Jonjo (Jenjo) –Taraba
- Jukun -Bauchi, Benue,Taraba, Plateau
- Kaba(Kabawa) -Taraba
- Kadara -Taraba
- Kafanchan -Kaduna
- Kagoro -Kaduna
- Kaje (Kache) –Kaduna
- Kajuru (Kajurawa) –Kaduna
- Kaka –Adamawa
- Kamaku (Karnukawa) -Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger
- Kambari -Kebbi, Niger
- Kambu –Adamawa
- Kamo –Bauchi
- Kanakuru (Dera) -Adamawa, Borno
- Kanembu –Borno
- Kanikon –Kaduna
- Kantana -Plateau
- Kanuri -Kaduna, Adamawa, Borno, Kano,Niger, Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe
- Karekare (Karaikarai) -Bauchi, Yobe
- Karimjo -Taraba
- Kariya –Bauchi
- Katab (Kataf) –Kaduna
- Kenern (Koenoem) –Plateau
- Kenton –Taraba
- Kiballo (Kiwollo) –Kaduna
- Kilba –Adamawa
- Kirfi (Kirfawa) –Bauchi
- Koma –Taraba
- Kona -Taraba
- Koro (Kwaro) -Kaduna, Niger
- Kubi (Kubawa) –Bauchi
- Kudachano (Kudawa) -Bauchi
- Kugama -Taraba
- Kulere (Kaler) -Plateau
- Kunini –Taraba
- Kurama -Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau
- Kurdul –Adamawa
- Kushi –Bauchi
- Kuteb –Taraba
- Kutin –Taraba
- Kwalla –Plateau
- Kwami (Kwom) –Bauchi
- Kwanchi –Taraba
- Kwanka (Kwankwa) -Bauchi, Plateau
- Kwaro –Plateau
- Kwato -Plateau
- Kyenga (Kengawa) -Sokoto
- Laaru (Larawa) -Niger
- Lakka –Adamawa
- Lala –Adamawa
- Lama –Taraba
- Lamja –Taraba
- Lau –Taraba
- Ubbo –Adamawa
- Limono -Bauchi, Plateau
- Lopa (Lupa, Lopawa) –Niger
- Longuda (Lunguda) -Adamawa, Bauchi
- Mabo –Plateau
- Mada -Kaduna, Plateau
- Mama –Plateau
- Mambilla –Adamawa
- Manchok -Kaduna
- Mandara (Wandala) –Borno
- Manga (Mangawa) -Yobe
- Margi (Marghi) -Adamawa, Borno
- Matakarn -Adamawa
- Mbembe -Cross River, Enugu
- Mbol –Adamawa
- Mbube -Cross River
- Mbula –Adamawa
- Mbum -Taraba
- Memyang (Meryan) -Plateau
- Miango -Plateau
- Miligili (Migili) -Plateau
- Miya (Miyawa) -Bauchi
- Mobber –Borno
- Montol -Plateau
- Moruwa (Moro’a, Morwa) –Kaduna
- Muchaila –Adamawa
- Mumuye –Taraba
- Mundang -Adamawa
- Munga (Mupang) –Plateau
- Mushere -Plateau
- Mwahavul (Mwaghavul) –Plateau
- Ndoro –Taraba
- Ngamo -Bauchi, Yobe
- Ngizim -Yobe
- Ngweshe (Ndhang.Ngoshe-Ndhang) -Adamawa, Borno
- Ningi (Ningawa) –Bauchi
- Ninzam (Ninzo) -Kaduna, Plateau
- Njayi -Adamawa
- Nkim -Cross River
- Nkum -Cross River
- Nokere (Nakere) –Plateau
- Nunku -Kaduna, Plateau
- Nupe –Niger
- Nyandang –Taraba
- Ododop- Cross River
- Ogoni – Rivers
- Ogori –Kwara
- Okobo (Okkobor) -Akwa lbom
- Okpamheri –Edo
- Olulumo -Cross River
- Oron -Akwa lbom
- Owan -Edo
- Owe –Kwara
- Oworo –Kwara
- Pa’a (Pa’awa Afawa) –Bauchi
- Pai -Plateau
- Panyam –Taraba
- Pero –Bauchi
- Pire –Adamawa
- Pkanzom –Taraba
- Poll –Taraba
- Polchi Habe -Bauchi
- Pongo (Pongu) –Niger
- Potopo -Taraba
- Pyapun (Piapung) -Plateau
- Qua -Cross River
- Rebina (Rebinawa) –Bauchi
- Reshe -Kebbi, Niger
- Rindire (Rendre) –Plateau
- Rishuwa –Kaduna
- Ron –Plateau
- Rubu –Niger
- Rukuba –Plateau
- Rumada –Kaduna
- Rumaya –Kaduna
- Sakbe -Taraba
- Sanga –Bauchi
- Sate –Taraba
- Saya (Sayawa Za’ar) –Bauchi
- Segidi (Sigidawa) –Bauchi
- Shanga (Shangawa) –Sokoto
- Shangawa (Shangau) –Plateau
- Shan-Shan –Plateau
- Shira (Shirawa) –Kano
- Shomo -Taraba
- Shuwa -Adamawa, Borno
- Sikdi -Plateau
- Siri (Sirawa) –Bauchi
- Srubu (Surubu) -Kaduna
- Sukur –Adamawa
- Sura –Plateau
- Tangale –Bauchi
- Tarok -Plateau, Taraba
- Teme –Adamawa
- Tera (Terawa) -Bauchi, Borno
- Teshena (Teshenawa) -Kano
- Tigon –Adamawa
- Tikar -Taraba
- Tiv -Benue, Plateau, Taraba and Nasarawa
- Tula –Bauchi
- Tur –Adamawa
- Ufia –Benue
- Ukelle -Cross River
- Ukwani (Kwale) –Delta
- Uncinda -Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto
- Uneme (Ineme) –Edo
- Ura (Ula) –Niger
- Urhobo -Delta
- Utonkong -Benue
- Uyanga -Cross River
- Vemgo -Adamawa
- Verre –Adamawa
- Vommi -Taraba
- Wagga –Adamawa
- Waja -Bauchi
- Waka -Taraba
- Warja (Warja) -Jigawa
- Warji -Bauchi
- Wula –Adamawa
- Wurbo –Adamawa
- Wurkun -Taraba
- Yache -Cross River
- Yagba -Kwara
- Yakurr (Yako) -Cross River
- Yalla –Benue
- Yandang –Taraba
- Yergan (Yergum) -Plateau
- Yoruba -(Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi)
- Yott –Taraba
- Yumu -Niger
- Yungur -Adamawa
- Yuom -Plateau
- Zabara –Niger
- Zaranda -Bauchi
- Zarma (Zarmawa) -Kebbi
- Zayam (Zeam) -Bauchi
- Zul (Zulawa) –Bauchi
Most of these languages are increasingly becoming less spoken as the native speakers have chosen to adopt the languages of the larger ethnic groups. Still, it is important that these languages are preserved and efforts are being taken to revive interest and promote indigenous languages. With these measures in place, it is hoped that they wouldn’t go extinct like many languages in the world.
What’s your take on this? I urge you to use this same opportunity to share this information across to others using our Facebook, twitter or Google+share button below.
NG Team.
