Nigeria as a whole, have a total of seven hundred and seventy four (774) local government area (LGA), and they spread across the 36 states of the federation. Some of these local governments solely depend on the federal government to cater for their social needs, while others have what it takes to cater for the needs of its residence. In this post, I shall be revealing to you the top 10 largest local governments in Nigeria by both population and landmass.

Top 10 Largest Local Governments in Nigeria

I am sure you might have asked the question, which state has the largest local government in Nigeria? You will arrive at the answer to your question as you read on. Below is the list of top 10 largest local governments in Nigeria going by their respective population and land mass.

Top 10 Largest Local Governments in Nigeria by Population and Land Mass

  1. Obio Akpor, Rivers State

Port Harcourt is the capital city of Rivers state, and it is also the largest city in the state. The estimated population of people living in Port Harcourt city is 1,865,000. The two local governments you will find in this city are; Obio Akpor and Eleme local government areas. The city was created in the year 1912, the government house with the Port Harcourt international airport are located in the city.

Obio Akpor on the other hand was created on the 3rd of May, 1989. The Obio Akpor local government council is the governing body of this local government. The estimated population of the inhabitants in this local government is 464,789 going by the last population census exercise conducted in Nigeria.

Obio Akpor is for sure the largest local government area in Port Harcourt, River state. It is a local government where most of the economic activities in the state is being carried out. The head quarter of Obio Akpor local government is at Rumuodomaya. The Nkweere people are the main inhabitants of this local government area because they own the land. Rivers state is automatically the state with the largest local government area in Nigeria; you can also check the list of smallest states in Nigeria by population and land mass.

The townships, localities and suburbs in Obio Akpor local government area are; Egbelu, Atoli, Alakahia, Choba, Eliozu, Eligbam, Alabama, Mgbuoba, Nkpa, Mgbuesilaru, Oro-Igwe, Rumooto, Elelenwo, Rumuola, Trans Amadi, Rumuokwuta, Rumuosi, Mgbuosimini, Rumuosi, Rumuokparahi, Mkpukuche, Rumuesara, Rumuokoro, Rukpuokwu, Rumudogo, Rumumomoi, Rumuokwachi, and Rumuibekwe.

  1. Ikeja, Lagos State

Lagos state is located in the south western region of Nigeria. It was created on May 27th, 1967. Lagos state has a total of 26 local government areas, and Ikeja is the capital of the state. Looking at the economy of Nigeria as a whole, Lagos has a strong economy which made it to be the centre of financial settings in the country.

Ikeja was established in the year 1980, and it is the location of popular places like Lagbaja’s Motherland, Femi kuti’s Africa Shrine, and the Ikeja City Mall, which is ithe largest mall within Lagos mainland.

Also read: Lagos Nigeria Crime Rate and What is Lagos Nigeria Like

Ikeja has an estimated population of 181,300 inhabitants going by the last population census conducted in Nigeria. The total landmass area of Ikeja is 49.92km. This figure alone makes it one of the largest local governments in Nigeria.

  1. Kurmi, Taraba State

Taraba state got its name from the famous river that passes through the south eastern region of Nigeria, the Taraba river. It is the third largest state in Nigeria in terms of land mass, and its capital is Jalingo. Taraba state has an estimated population of 2,294,800 people going by the last population census, and its total landmass is 21,032km. The state created on August 27, 1991.

Now let us look at one of the local government situated in the state – Kurmi local government area.

Kurmi local government was created in the year 1986, and it has its headquarter at Baissa. Kurmi is the third largest local government in Nigeria. The total land mass of Kurmi local government area is 1,681 square meters. Going by the last population exercise conducted in Nigeria, Kurmi has an estimated population of 91,531 inhabitants.

The three major tribes in Kurmi local governments are Tigun, Ndola, and Itchen tribes. This local government is endowed with lots of natural resources like precious stones, waterfalls, gem stones, mountains and forest.

  1. Etinan, Akwa Ibom State

Akwa ibom state is located in the South-South region, and it is one of the oil producing state in Nigeria. The state was created on September 27, 1989, and it has a land mass area of 2,734 square meters.

Etinan local government, is one of the local governments in Akwa Ibom state, and it is among the largest local governments in Nigeria. Sitting at the fourth spot in this list, the local government has a good number of population and land mass area. The prestigious Udua Etinan market is located in this local government.

  1. Esan Central, Edo State

Esan central is the fifth largest local government in Nigeria as it has a land mass area of 253km, and an estimated population of 103,510 inhabitants, gong by the record of the last population census conducted in Nigeria. It is one of the local government in Edo state, South-South Nigeria. The major cities in Esan central are Ewu, Irrua, Ugbegun, Igueven, Opoli, Ewosa, and Ebelle.

  1. Dekina, Kogi State

Many people have asked the question, is Dekina the largest local government in Nigeria? If you have read from the beginning of this page you will discover the answer is partially true. This means that going by population is not the largest in Nigeria, but if we use land mass area as a factor, Dekina local government is the for sure one of the largest local government in Nigeria.

Now let me clear you with facts.

Going by the last population census conducted in Nigeria, Dekina local government has an estimated population of 260,968 inhabitants. The total land area of the state is 950 square meters (2,461km square).

  1. Toro, Bauchi State

Toro local government is the seventh largest local governments in Nigeria. It has a total land area of 6,032km, and a population of about 350,404 people going by the last population census conducted in the country. Toro local government is located in Bauchi state, and some of the spoken languages in that region include; Hausa, Ribina, Fulfulde, and jawara.

  1. Lagos Island, Lagos State

Lagos Island local government, just as the name goes, is located in Lagos state, Nigeria. The local government has a total landmass area of 8.7km, and it is one of the largest local governments in Nigeria. It has an estimated population of 209,437 people going by the last population census conducted in Nigeria.

  1. Kano Municipal Central, Kano State

Kano Municipal Central local government is situated at the western door of the Emir’s place called the Kafar Kudu. It has a land mass of 7 square meters, and an estimated population of 365,525 people going by the last population census.

  1. Karo, Nasarawa

Karo occupies the tenth position in this list of top 10 largest local governments in Nigeria. The local government has its boundaries extended to Abuja, though it is located in Nasarawa state. The total land mass of Karo local government area is 200 square meters, and it has an estimated population of 2,000,000 inhabitants. Karo, is the center of economic activities due to its high concentrations of public banks. Some of its major towns are New Karo, New Nyanya, Masaka, Ado, Kuruduma, and Maraba.