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🏠 Local Government Areas • North Central

Nasarawa State
Local Government Areas

Nasarawa State has 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs), each with its own council, headquarters and elected officials. The state capital is Lafia.

13 Total LGAs
2 Senatorial Districts
2,222,000 Population (2006 Census)
StateNasarawa
CapitalLafia
ZoneNorth Central
LGAs13
Districts2
13 of 13 LGAs
Nasarawa North 7 LGAs
Nasarawa LGA
Akwanga
HQ: Akwanga
Pop: 148,000 (2006)
Known for the Mada, Ninzam and Gwandara people. Gateway to Plateau State. Yam and sorghum farming.
Nasarawa LGA
Karu
HQ: Karu
Pop: 256,000 (2006)
Peri-urban satellite of Abuja, one of the fastest-growing LGAs in Nigeria. Home to Nyanya and Mararaba.
Nasarawa LGA
Keffi
HQ: Keffi
Pop: 183,000 (2006)
Known for Nasarawa State University and the Keffi emirate. Important educational and commercial LGA.
Nasarawa LGA
Kokona
HQ: Kwara
Pop: 137,000 (2006)
Known for yam, sorghum and millet farming. Predominantly Gbagyi and Koro people.
Nasarawa LGA
Nasarawa
HQ: Nasarawa
Pop: 186,000 (2006)
Known for the historic Nasarawa emirate and sorghum, yam farming. Gateway between Nasarawa and Keffi.
Nasarawa LGA
Toto
HQ: Toto
Pop: 138,000 (2006)
Known for the Toto and Koro people. Agricultural LGA producing yam and sorghum.
Nasarawa LGA
Wamba
HQ: Wamba
Pop: 117,000 (2006)
Known for the Mada people and yam farming. Important cultural LGA bordering Plateau State.
Nasarawa South 6 LGAs
Nasarawa LGA
Awe
HQ: Awe
Pop: 129,000 (2006)
Known for rock salt deposits and the Awe people. Important mineral and agricultural LGA.
Nasarawa LGA
Doma
HQ: Doma
Pop: 193,000 (2006)
Known for the Doma emirate and yam, sorghum farming. Agricultural LGA in south Nasarawa.
Nasarawa LGA
Keana
HQ: Keana
Pop: 112,000 (2006)
Known for brine salt deposits and the Keana people. Agricultural and mineral LGA.
Nasarawa LGA
Lafia
HQ: Lafia
Pop: 353,000 (2006)
Contains Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital. Home to state government offices and University of Mkar.
Nasarawa LGA
Nasarawa Egon
HQ: Nasarawa Egon
Pop: 157,000 (2006)
Known for yam and cassava farming. The Nasarawa Egon people have strong cultural heritage.
Nasarawa LGA
Obi
HQ: Obi
Pop: 113,000 (2006)
Known for the Obi people and yam farming. Agricultural LGA in southern Nasarawa State.
Frequently Asked Questions — Nasarawa State LGAs

Nasarawa State has 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs). Each LGA has its own elected council, a chairman, and a headquarters town. They are responsible for grassroots governance, primary education, primary healthcare, and rural infrastructure.

Nasarawa State is divided into 2 senatorial districts. Each district is represented by a senator in the Nigerian National Assembly and comprises several LGAs. The districts in Nasarawa State are: Nasarawa North, Nasarawa South.

Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria are the third tier of government. Their constitutional responsibilities include:

  • Primary and adult education
  • Primary healthcare and maternal services
  • Local roads and drains
  • Markets, motor parks and public conveniences
  • Refuse disposal and environmental sanitation
  • Naming of streets and numbering of houses
  • Collection of local taxes and rates
LGAs receive monthly allocations from the Federation Account (FAAC) and generate internally through rates and fees.

Each LGA is headed by an elected Local Government Chairman, who serves as the chief executive of the council. The legislative arm is the Legislative Council, made up of elected councillors representing each ward. The council appoints supervisory councillors (equivalent to commissioners) to head departments like education, health and works.

The headquarters of a Local Government Area is the principal town or city where the council secretariat (local government secretariat) is located. It is where the chairman's office, legislative hall, and most council departments are based. The headquarters is usually the largest or most central town in the LGA.