Jigawa State Overview

Jigawa State is a state in Nigeria. It was formerly part of Kano State but became an independent state on August 27, 1991. The state was created during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, who was Nigeria’s president at the time. The state capital is Dutse, where the administrative affairs are managed by the governor. Jigawa is also known by the SLOGAN “The New World.”

Location

Jigawa State is located in northern Nigeria. It shares four interstate borders and has an international border with Niger Republic to the north. The interstate boundaries are as follows:

To the west: Kano State
To the east: Yobe State
To the northwest: Zamfara State
To the southeast: Bauchi State

The geographical coordinates of Jigawa State are 12°00′N 9°45′E.

Land Mass

Jigawa State has a land area of approximately 23,154 square kilometers, making it the 18th largest state in Nigeria in terms of land size. This represents about 2.51% of Nigeria’s total land area.

Kogi State
Capital: Dutse Slogan: The New World
Date of Creation:	27 August 1991
Location	North Central
Executive Governor:	Umar Namadi
Deputy Governor:	Aminu Usman
Population:	4.4 million as at 2006 Census
Language:	Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri & Others
LGA:	21
Postal Code	720001

Population Size

According to the 2006 National Population Census, Jigawa State had a population of 4,361,002. By 2022, the estimated population had grown to 7,499,100, making it the 8th most populous state in Nigeria.

Topography

The topography of Jigawa State is characterized by the basement complex in the southern region and sedimentary rocks in the northern part. Additionally, important rivers such as the Hadejia River and Kafin Hausa River are significant features of the landscape.

Vegetation

Jigawa State has two major vegetation zones:

Sudan Savanna in the northern part
Guinea Savanna in the southern region

A large portion of the state is covered by Sudan vegetation, which consists primarily of grasslands, making it ideal for livestock grazing. The state also boasts fertile land, suitable for cultivating cash crops.

Climate

Jigawa State has a tropical savanna climate, marked by distinct dry and rainy seasons. The dry season lasts from November to March and is characterized by the harmattan, a dry and dusty wind from the east. The rainy season spans from April to October, with August experiencing the heaviest rainfall. The state’s annual average temperature ranges from a low of 23.19ºC to a high of 34.69ºC. December is the driest month, while February is the warmest. August is the coldest month, with an average temperature of 21.43ºC. Jigawa receives an average annual rainfall of 128.03mm.

People & Tribes

Jigawa State is home to several indigenous ethnic groups. While various local languages are spoken, Hausa and Fulani are the most widely used. Other languages include Bade, Guri, Duwai, Kanuri, and Fula.

Religiously, Islam and Christianity are the major faiths in the state. However, a large percentage of the population practices Islam.

List of Jigawa State Local Government Areas & Postal Codes

Jigawa State consists of 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs). Below is a list of some LGAs along with their respective postal codes:

LGA Name	Postal Code
Auyo	720101
Babura	720102
Birniwa	720103
Buji	720104
Dutse	720105
Gagarawa	720106
Garki	720107
Gumel	720108
Hadejia	720109
Jahun	720110
Kafin Hausa	720111
Kazaure	720112
Kiri Kasama	720113
Maigatari	720114
Miga	720115
Ringim	720116
Roni	720117
Sule Tankarkar	720118
Taura	720119
Yankwashi	720120

Jigawa State Governors

In Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, the Jigawa State government is led by an executive governor and cabinet members. The gubernatorial seat is determined every four years through a ballot voting system. The people of Jigawa cast their votes for the candidates of their choice in the gubernatorial election. The candidate with the highest number of votes, representing the winning party, becomes the governor.

After the election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issues a Certificate of Return to the elected candidate, officially granting them the authority to oversee the state’s administrative affairs.

The governorship term in Jigawa, like in all Nigerian states, is a maximum of eight years. This means that after serving the first four-year term, the incumbent governor may be re-elected for another four years, making a total of eight years in office.

Now, let’s take a look at the list of all governors of Jigawa State from 1991 to the present, starting with the first governor.

List of Governors of Jigawa from 1991 – Present

Name	Years in Office	Title
Olayinka Sule	Aug 1991 – Jan 1992	Administrator
Ali Sa’ad Birnin-Kudu	Jan 1992 – Nov 1993	Governor
Col. Ibrahim Aliyu	Dec 1993 – Aug 1996	Administrator
Rasheed Shekoni	Aug 1996 – Aug 1998	Administrator
Abubakar Maimalari	Aug 1998 – May 1999	Administrator
Ibrahim S. Turaki	May 1999 – May 2007	Governor
Sule Lamido	May 2007 – May 2015	Governor
Badaru Abubakar	May 2015 – May 2023	Governor
Umar Namadi	May 2023 – Present	Governor

Who Was the First Governor of Jigawa State?

Olayinka Sule was the first governor of Jigawa State. He served as a military administrator, as governors were referred to under military rule. Sule managed the affairs of Jigawa State from 1991 to January 1, 1993.

Before retiring from the Nigerian Army, Olayinka handed over power to a civilian government during Nigeria’s Third Republic. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring from the military.

Olayinka Sule was born on May 4, 1948, and lived for 72 years before his passing.

Who Is the Current Governor of Jigawa State?

Umar Namadi is the current and 9th governor of Jigawa State. He was sworn in on May 29, 2023, as the governor. Previously, he served as Deputy Governor from 2019 to 2023 before assuming the governorship seat.

Namadi is an accountant by profession. He earned his first degree in Accounting from Bayero University, Kano, where he also obtained an MBA. He has been a chartered accountant since 1993 and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Nigerian Institute of Management.

Throughout his career, Namadi has gained expertise in research, auditing, banking, and management, which contributed to his selection as a candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party that brought him to power.

Who Is the Current Deputy Governor of Jigawa State?

The current deputy governor of the State is Aminu Usman, an electrical engineer and politician. He assumed office on May 29, 2023.

Before becoming deputy governor, Usman served as the Jigawa State Commissioner of Works. He also worked with the Federal Housing Authority and was the Managing Director of Socar Talamiz Limited, a company based in Lagos. Additionally, he was the Project Manager of the Gwarinpa Housing Scheme in Abuja.

Regarding his education, Usman first attended Kano State Polytechnic, then moved to Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, and later Bayero University, Kano. He also holds a certification from the Nigerian Certified Institute of Shipping, Lagos.