Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State recently made a bold statement during a public address He claimed that one Local Government Area in Niger State is larger than the entire South East region of Nigeria He also argued that Niger State itself covers 11 percent of the total land area of the country These claims drew attention across the nation as they touch on geography governance and the politics of representation But are they accurate A closer look at the data can help us understand the truth behind these assertions .
The Claims
The governor’s words centered on two major points First he claimed that one LGA in Niger State is bigger in landmass than all five states of the South East put together namely Abia Anambra Ebonyi Enugu and Imo Second he stated that Niger State represents 11 percent of Nigeria’s land size The implication of his remarks is clear Niger State according to him deserves recognition for its vast land area and the resources that come with it .
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South East Region and Nigeria’s Land Size
The South East is the smallest geopolitical zone in Nigeria by landmass Collectively the five states cover about 29,388 square kilometers Nigeria as a whole spans roughly 923,768 square kilometers This means the South East takes up just over three percent of the nation’s land area making it the most compact zone in the federation .
Niger State’s Actual Size
Niger State is officially recorded to have an area of 76,363 square kilometers This makes it the largest state in Nigeria by landmass but when compared to the nation’s total size its share is closer to 8 percent than the 11 percent claimed by the governor The calculation is straightforward 76,363 divided by 923,768 gives about 826 percent Therefore the figure of 11 percent appears overstated .
The Size of Niger State LGAs
Niger State has several large LGAs by Nigerian standards Mariga covers around 5,552 square kilometers Lapai has about 3,051 square kilometers and Borgu which is often cited in debates is estimated at around 10,992 square kilometers While Borgu is indeed vast it is not larger than the South East zone The South East’s 29,388 square kilometers is almost three times bigger than Borgu LGA’s land area .
Assessing the Governor’s Statement
When the claim is tested against available data it does not hold up No single LGA in Niger State comes close to being larger than the entire South East zone Likewise Niger State though undeniably expansive does not cover 11 percent of Nigeria’s landmass but closer to 8 to 9 percent The governor’s remarks therefore appear to exaggerate the reality though they do highlight Niger’s geographic significance .
Why the Discrepancies Exist
There could be several reasons behind the governor’s claims One possibility is rounding errors or misquotations during public speeches Another is confusion between state and LGA statistics since boundaries and measurement methods may differ across sources Social media has also contributed to the spread of unverified figures which are sometimes repeated as fact In addition the use of the term bigger could have been metaphorical meant to stress Niger State’s importance rather than precise land calculations .
Conclusion
Niger State is without doubt the largest state in Nigeria by land area but its share is under 9 percent not 11 percent Borgu LGA though large is not bigger than the South East region This means Governor Bago’s claims are not supported by official data Nevertheless his statement reflects a wider issue about how geography is often used in political arguments Whether for resource allocation infrastructure or recognition size plays an important role in the politics of Nigerian states .
Implications and Significance
Exaggerated claims about land size may seem minor but they can influence public perception and even policymaking Leaders need to rely on accurate statistics when making statements about geography population or resources Misunderstandings about facts may affect resource sharing developmental planning and federal recognition For Niger State while the governor’s figures may not be precise the message is clear The state is large resource rich and strategically significant in the Nigerian federation .