List of Languages in Nigeria and their States

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List of Languages in Nigeria and their States | Although English is the official language in the country, Nigeria’s large population is responsible for its linguistic diversity which is like a microcosm of Africa as a whole.

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.

Table of Contents

List of Languages in Nigeria and their States.

  1. Abayon – Cross River
  2. Abua (Odual) –Rivers
  3. Achipa (Achipawa) –Kebbi
  4. Adim -Cross River
  5. Adun -Cross River
  6. Affade –Yobe
  7. Afizere –Plateau
  8. Afo –Plateau
  9. Agbo -Cross River
  10. Akaju-Ndem (Akajuk) -Cross River
  11. Akweya-Yachi –Benue
  12. Alago (Arago) –Plateau
  13. Amo –Plateau
  14. Anaguta -Plateau
  15. Anang -Akwa lbom
  16. Andoni -Akwa lbom, Rivers
  17. Angas -Bauchi, Jigawa, Plateau
  18. Ankwei –Plateau
  19. Anyima -Cross River
  20. Attakar (ataka) –Kaduna
  21. Auyoka (Auyokawa) -Jigawa
  22. Awori -Lagos, Ogun
  23. Ayu –Kaduna
  24. Babur -Adamawa, Bomo, Taraba, Yobe
  25. Bachama -Adamawa
  26. Bachere -Cross River
  27. Bada –Plateau
  28. Bade -Yobe
  29. Bahumono -Cross River
  30. Bakulung -Taraba
  31. Bali -Taraba
  32. Bambora (Bambarawa) –Bauchi
  33. Bambuko -Taraba
  34. Banda (Bandawa) -Taraba
  35. Banka (Bankalawa) -Bauchi
  36. Banso (Panso) –Adamawa
  37. Bara (Barawa) –Bauchi
  38. Barke –Bauchi
  39. Baruba (Barba) –Niger
  40. Bashiri (Bashirawa) –Plateau
  41. Bassa -Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Plateau
  42. Batta –Adamawa
  43. Baushi –Niger
  44. Baya –Adamawa
  45. Bekwarra -Cross River
  46. Bele (Buli, Belewa) -Bauchi
  47. Betso (Bete) -Taraba
  48. Bette -Cross River
  49. Bilei –Adamawa
  50. Bille –Adamawa
  51. Bina (Binawa) -Kaduna
  52. Bini –Edo
  53. Birom –Plateau
  54. Bobua –Taraba
  55. Boki (Nki) -Cross River
  56. Bkkos –Plateau
  57. Boko (Bussawa, Bargawa) –Niger
  58. Bole (Bolewa) -Bauchi, Yobe
  59. Botlere -Adamawa
  60. Boma (Bomawa, Burmano) -Bauchi
  61. Bomboro -Bauchi
  62. Buduma -Borno, Niger
  63. Buji -Plateau
  64. Buli -Bauchi
  65. Bunu –Kogi
  66. Bura –Adamawa
  67. Burak -Bauchi
  68. Burma (Burmawa) -Plateau
  69. Buru -Yobe
  70. Buta (Butawa) -Bauchi
  71. Bwall –Plateau
  72. Bwatiye -Adamawa
  73. Bwazza -Adamawa
  74. Challa –Plateau
  75. Chama (Chamawa Fitilai) –Bauchi
  76. Chamba -Taraba
  77. Chamo –Bauchi
  78. Chibok (Chibbak) -Yobe
  79. Chinine –Borno
  80. Chip –Plateau
  81. Chokobo –Plateau
  82. Chukkol –Taraba
  83. Daba –Adamawa
  84. Dadiya –Bauchi
  85. Daka –Adamawa
  86. Dakarkari -Niger, Kebbi
  87. Danda (Dandawa) -Kebbi
  88. Dangsa –Taraba
  89. Daza (Dere, Derewa) –Bauchi
  90. Degema –Rivers
  91. Deno (Denawa) –Bauchi
  92. Dghwede -Bomo
  93. Diba –Taraba
  94. Doemak (Dumuk) –Plateau
  95. Ouguri –Bauchi
  96. Duka (Dukawa) –Kebbi
  97. Duma (Dumawa) –Bauchi
  98. Ebana (Ebani) –Rivers
  99. Ebirra (lgbirra) -Edo, Kogi, Ondo
  100. Ebu -Edo, Kogi
  101. Efik -Cross River
  102. Egbema –Rivers
  103. Egede (lgedde) –Benue
  104. Eggon -Plateau
  105. Egun (Gu) -Lagos,Ogun
  106. Ejagham -Cross River
  107. Ekajuk -Cross River
  108. Eket -Akwa Ibom
  109. Ekoi -Cross River
  110. Engenni (Ngene) –Rivers
  111. Epie -Rivers
  112. Esan (Ishan) –Edo
  113. Etche –Rivers
  114. Etolu (Etilo) –Benue
  115. Etsako -Edo
  116. Etung -Cross River
  117. Etuno –Edo
  118. Palli –Adamawa
  119. Pulani (Pulbe) -Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa , Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi , Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, etc.
  120. Fyam (Fyem) -Plateau
  121. Fyer(Fer) -Plateau
  122. Ga’anda -Adamawa
  123. Gade –Niger
  124. Galambi -Bauchi
  125. Gamergu-Mulgwa -Borno
  126. Qanawuri –Plateau
  127. Gavako –Borno
  128. Gbedde -Kogi
  129. Gengle –Taraba
  130. Geji –Bauchi
  131. Gera (Gere, Gerawa) –Bauchi
  132. Geruma (Gerumawa) -Plateau
  133. Geruma (Gerumawa) –Bauchi
  134. Gingwak -Bauchi
  135. Gira –Adamawa
  136. Gizigz –Adamawa
  137. Goernai –Plateau
  138. Gokana (Kana) –Rivers
  139. Gombi –Adamawa
  140. Gornun (Gmun) -Taraba
  141. Gonia -Taraba
  142. Gubi (Gubawa) -Bauchi
  143. Gude –Adamawa
  144. Gudu –Adamawa
  145. Gure -Kaduna
  146. Gurmana –Niger
  147. Gururntum -Bauchi
  148. Gusu -Plateau
  149. Gwa (Gurawa) –Adamawa
  150. Gwamba Adamawa
  151. Gwandara -Kaduna, Niger, Plateau
  152. Gwari (Gbari) -Kaduna, Niger, Abuja, Plateau
  153. Gwom -Taraba
  154. Gwoza (Waha) –Borno
  155. Gyem –Bauchi
  156. Hausa: -Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna,Kano, Kastina, Kebbi, Niger,Taraba, Sokoto, Zamfara etc
  157. Higi (Hig) -Borno, Adamawa
  158. Holma -Adamawa
  159. Hona -Adamawa
  160. Ibeno -Akwa lbom
  161. Ibibio -Akwa lbom
  162. Ichen –Adamawa
  163. Idoma -Benue, Taraba
  164. Igalla -Kogi
  165. lgbo: -Abia, Anambra, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Rivers
  166. ljumu -Kogi
  167. Ikom-Cross River
  168. Ikwerre – Rivers
  169. Irigwe –Plateau
  170. Isoko –Delta
  171. lsekiri (Itsekiri) -Delta
  172. lyala (lyalla) -Cross River
  173. lzondjo -Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo, Rivers
  174. Jaba -Kaduna
  175. Jahuna (Jahunawa) –Taraba
  176. Jaku -Bauchi
  177. Jara (Jaar Jarawa Jarawa-Dutse) -Bauchi
  178. Jere (Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa) -Bauchi, Plateau
  179. Jero –Taraba
  180. Jibu –Adamawa
  181. Jidda-Abu -Plateau
  182. Jimbin (Jimbinawa) -Bauchi
  183. Jirai –Adamawa
  184. Jonjo (Jenjo) –Taraba
  185. Jukun -Bauchi, Benue,Taraba, Plateau
  186. Kaba(Kabawa) -Taraba
  187. Kadara -Taraba
  188. Kafanchan -Kaduna
  189. Kagoro -Kaduna
  190. Kaje (Kache) –Kaduna
  191. Kajuru (Kajurawa) –Kaduna
  192. Kaka –Adamawa
  193. Kamaku (Karnukawa) -Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger
  194. Kambari -Kebbi, Niger
  195. Kambu –Adamawa
  196. Kamo –Bauchi
  197. Kanakuru (Dera) -Adamawa, Borno
  198. Kanembu –Borno
  199. Kanikon –Kaduna
  200. Kantana -Plateau
  201. Kanuri -Kaduna, Adamawa, Borno, Kano,Niger, Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe
  202. Karekare (Karaikarai) -Bauchi, Yobe
  203. Karimjo -Taraba
  204. Kariya –Bauchi
  205. Katab (Kataf) –Kaduna
  206. Kenern (Koenoem) –Plateau
  207. Kenton –Taraba
  208. Kiballo (Kiwollo) –Kaduna
  209. Kilba –Adamawa
  210. Kirfi (Kirfawa) –Bauchi
  211. Koma –Taraba
  212. Kona -Taraba
  213. Koro (Kwaro) -Kaduna, Niger
  214. Kubi (Kubawa) –Bauchi
  215. Kudachano (Kudawa) -Bauchi
  216. Kugama -Taraba
  217. Kulere (Kaler) -Plateau
  218. Kunini –Taraba
  219. Kurama -Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau
  220. Kurdul –Adamawa
  221. Kushi –Bauchi
  222. Kuteb –Taraba
  223. Kutin –Taraba
  224. Kwalla –Plateau
  225. Kwami (Kwom) –Bauchi
  226. Kwanchi –Taraba
  227. Kwanka (Kwankwa) -Bauchi, Plateau
  228. Kwaro –Plateau
  229. Kwato -Plateau
  230. Kyenga (Kengawa) -Sokoto
  231. Laaru (Larawa) -Niger
  232. Lakka –Adamawa
  233. Lala –Adamawa
  234. Lama –Taraba
  235. Lamja –Taraba
  236. Lau –Taraba
  237. Ubbo –Adamawa
  238. Limono -Bauchi, Plateau
  239. Lopa (Lupa, Lopawa) –Niger
  240. Longuda (Lunguda) -Adamawa, Bauchi
  241. Mabo –Plateau
  242. Mada -Kaduna, Plateau
  243. Mama –Plateau
  244. Mambilla –Adamawa
  245. Manchok -Kaduna
  246. Mandara (Wandala) –Borno
  247. Manga (Mangawa) -Yobe
  248. Margi (Marghi) -Adamawa, Borno
  249. Matakarn -Adamawa
  250. Mbembe -Cross River, Enugu
  251. Mbol –Adamawa
  252. Mbube -Cross River
  253. Mbula –Adamawa
  254. Mbum -Taraba
  255. Memyang (Meryan) -Plateau
  256. Miango -Plateau
  257. Miligili (Migili) -Plateau
  258. Miya (Miyawa) -Bauchi
  259. Mobber –Borno
  260. Montol -Plateau
  261. Moruwa (Moro’a, Morwa) –Kaduna
  262. Muchaila –Adamawa
  263. Mumuye –Taraba
  264. Mundang -Adamawa
  265. Munga (Mupang) –Plateau
  266. Mushere -Plateau
  267. Mwahavul (Mwaghavul) –Plateau
  268. Ndoro –Taraba
  269. Ngamo -Bauchi, Yobe
  270. Ngizim -Yobe
  271. Ngweshe (Ndhang.Ngoshe-Ndhang) -Adamawa, Borno
  272. Ningi (Ningawa) –Bauchi
  273. Ninzam (Ninzo) -Kaduna, Plateau
  274. Njayi -Adamawa
  275. Nkim -Cross River
  276. Nkum -Cross River
  277. Nokere (Nakere) –Plateau
  278. Nunku -Kaduna, Plateau
  279. Nupe –Niger
  280. Nyandang –Taraba
  281. Ododop- Cross River
  282. Ogoni – Rivers
  283. Ogori –Kwara
  284. Okobo (Okkobor) -Akwa lbom
  285. Okpamheri –Edo
  286. Olulumo -Cross River
  287. Oron -Akwa lbom
  288. Owan -Edo
  289. Owe –Kwara
  290. Oworo –Kwara
  291. Pa’a (Pa’awa Afawa) –Bauchi
  292. Pai -Plateau
  293. Panyam –Taraba
  294. Pero –Bauchi
  295. Pire –Adamawa
  296. Pkanzom –Taraba
  297. Poll –Taraba
  298. Polchi Habe -Bauchi
  299. Pongo (Pongu) –Niger
  300. Potopo -Taraba
  301. Pyapun (Piapung) -Plateau
  302. Qua -Cross River
  303. Rebina (Rebinawa) –Bauchi
  304. Reshe -Kebbi, Niger
  305. Rindire (Rendre) –Plateau
  306. Rishuwa –Kaduna
  307. Ron –Plateau
  308. Rubu –Niger
  309. Rukuba –Plateau
  310. Rumada –Kaduna
  311. Rumaya –Kaduna
  312. Sakbe -Taraba
  313. Sanga –Bauchi
  314. Sate –Taraba
  315. Saya (Sayawa Za’ar) –Bauchi
  316. Segidi (Sigidawa) –Bauchi
  317. Shanga (Shangawa) –Sokoto
  318. Shangawa (Shangau) –Plateau
  319. Shan-Shan –Plateau
  320. Shira (Shirawa) –Kano
  321. Shomo -Taraba
  322. Shuwa -Adamawa, Borno
  323. Sikdi -Plateau
  324. Siri (Sirawa) –Bauchi
  325. Srubu (Surubu) -Kaduna
  326. Sukur –Adamawa
  327. Sura –Plateau
  328. Tangale –Bauchi
  329. Tarok -Plateau, Taraba
  330. Teme –Adamawa
  331. Tera (Terawa) -Bauchi, Borno
  332. Teshena (Teshenawa) -Kano
  333. Tigon –Adamawa
  334. Tikar -Taraba
  335. Tiv -Benue, Plateau, Taraba and Nasarawa
  336. Tula –Bauchi
  337. Tur –Adamawa
  338. Ufia –Benue
  339. Ukelle -Cross River
  340. Ukwani (Kwale) –Delta
  341. Uncinda -Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto
  342. Uneme (Ineme) –Edo
  343. Ura (Ula) –Niger
  344. Urhobo -Delta
  345. Utonkong -Benue
  346. Uyanga -Cross River
  347. Vemgo -Adamawa
  348. Verre –Adamawa
  349. Vommi -Taraba
  350. Wagga –Adamawa
  351. Waja -Bauchi
  352. Waka -Taraba
  353. Warja (Warja) -Jigawa
  354. Warji -Bauchi
  355. Wula –Adamawa
  356. Wurbo –Adamawa
  357. Wurkun -Taraba
  358. Yache -Cross River
  359. Yagba -Kwara
  360. Yakurr (Yako) -Cross River
  361. Yalla –Benue
  362. Yandang –Taraba
  363. Yergan (Yergum) -Plateau
  364. Yoruba -(Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi)
  365. Yott –Taraba
  366. Yumu -Niger
  367. Yungur -Adamawa
  368. Yuom -Plateau
  369. Zabara –Niger
  370. Zaranda -Bauchi
  371. Zarma (Zarmawa) -Kebbi
  372. Zayam (Zeam) -Bauchi
  373. 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.


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