Capital of Sokoto State — Sokoto

The land that is today Sokoto State stands at the heart of one of the most consequential pre-colonial political formations in African history. Long before the 19th-century Islamic revolution that defined the region's modern identity, the area was home to several competing Hausa kingdoms. The most powerful of these in the immediate vicinity was Gobir, a state that by the 18th century had become a m

First governor: Colonel Sani Abacha (Administrator); Colonel Usman Faruk (first Military Governor)

Read full Sokoto State history →

The economy of Sokoto State is largely based on agriculture, livestock rearing, and small-scale trading. Key products include millet, maize, beans, onions, and livestock such as cattle, goats, and sheep. The state also has growing potential in irrigation farming due to the River Rima.

As capital, Sokoto concentrates civil service employment and administrative services that support the wider Sokoto economy.

Sokoto is the political and administrative centre of Sokoto State in Nigeria’s North West zone. Government House, the State House of Assembly and core ministries are based here.

Sokoto State, known as “Seat of the Caliphate”, relies on Sokoto as its primary seat of government.

For census totals, growth rates and LGA breakdowns, use the dedicated Sokoto population page — this capital page focuses on the seat of government, not state-wide demographics.