Borno is a North East zone state with its capital at Maiduguri. It has 27 local government areas and a population of 4,171,104 at the 2006 census, projected to 6,111,500 by 2022. Every LGA below links to its full town-and-village list where we cover it.
Local Government Areas in Borno State
The table below lists all 27 official LGAs in alphabetical order, with their 2006 census and 2022 projected populations. They range from the densely settled Maiduguri metropolis to smaller, sparsely populated LGAs such as Kwaya Kusar and Kala/Balge.
| LGA | 2006 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Abadam | 100,065 | 146,600 |
| Askira/Uba | 143,313 | 210,000 |
| Bama | 270,119 | 395,800 |
| Bayo | 79,078 | 115,900 |
| Biu | 175,760 | 257,500 |
| Chibok | 66,333 | 97,200 |
| Damboa | 233,200 | 341,700 |
| Dikwa | 105,042 | 153,900 |
| Gubio | 151,286 | 221,700 |
| Guzamala | 95,991 | 140,600 |
| Gwoza | 276,568 | 405,200 |
| Hawul | 120,733 | 176,900 |
| Jere | 209,107 | 306,400 |
| Kaga | 89,996 | 131,900 |
| Kala/Balge | 60,834 | 89,100 |
| Konduga | 157,322 | 230,500 |
| Kukawa | 203,343 | 297,900 |
| Kwaya Kusar | 56,704 | 83,100 |
| Mafa | 103,600 | 151,800 |
| Magumeri | 140,257 | 205,500 |
| Maiduguri | 540,016 | 791,200 |
| Marte | 129,409 | 189,600 |
| Mobbar | 116,633 | 170,900 |
| Monguno | 109,834 | 160,900 |
| Ngala | 236,498 | 346,500 |
| Nganzai | 99,074 | 145,200 |
| Shani | 100,989 | 148,000 |
Borno State has 27 official LGAs, and 26 of them have a full town-and-village list on this site.
Geography
Borno sits in Nigeria’s far northeast, bordering Yobe, Gombe and Adamawa states, plus Niger, Chad and Cameroon across the international boundary. Lake Chad forms part of the state’s northeastern edge, and its shoreline has shrunk over recent decades, pushing fishing and farming communities further out onto exposed lakebed. The Mandara Mountains rise along the southeastern border near Gwoza and Askira/Uba, giving those two LGAs a hillier landscape than the rest of the state. The Sambisa forest, a former game reserve, lies south of Maiduguri. The Ngadda River runs through the state capital, and the Komadugu Yobe forms part of the boundary with Yobe State in the northwest. Away from the mountains and the lake shore, most of Borno is flat Sahel savanna, with the Firki clay plains stretching out near Lake Chad. The climate is semi-arid, with a short rainy season from June to September and a long dry season the rest of the year, so most farming depends on that single wet-season window.
Economy & Local Life
Farming and herding anchor Borno’s economy. Millet, sorghum, groundnuts, cowpeas and gum arabic grow across the drier north and center, while Kanuri and Shuwa Arab herders graze cattle, sheep and goats on the Sahel grasslands. Communities near Lake Chad and the Kukawa axis fish and trade dried fish, though the lake’s retreat has pushed some fishing grounds further from the old shore settlements. Maiduguri has long served as a hub for cross-border trade with Niger, Chad and Cameroon, and for livestock and grain markets that supply the wider northeast. The city is also known for its leatherwork and traditional weaving, crafts tied to Borno’s history as the seat of the old Kanem-Bornu Empire and its trans-Saharan caravan trade. The Boko Haram insurgency, active since 2009, has disrupted farming, fishing and trade across parts of the state, and displaced residents from some rural LGAs, even as Maiduguri and other towns have continued to function as markets and administrative centers. Kanuri is the dominant language and culture across most of the state, with Shuwa Arab, Babur/Bura, Marghi and Kibaku communities concentrated in the south around Biu, Hawul and Askira/Uba. The traditional ruler of the Kanuri, the Shehu of Borno, is based in Maiduguri and remains a central figure in local affairs alongside the elected state government.
FAQ
How many local government areas are in Borno State?
Borno State has 27 local government areas. It shares an international boundary with Niger, Chad and Cameroon, in addition to its borders with Yobe, Gombe and Adamawa states.
What is the capital of Borno State?
Maiduguri is the capital of Borno State. It is also the state’s most populous LGA and its main commercial and administrative center.
What is the population of Borno State?
Borno State had a population of 4,171,104 at the 2006 census, projected to 6,111,500 by 2022. Its 1991 census population was 2,536,003.
Which LGA in Borno State has the largest population?
Maiduguri LGA, home to the state capital, is the most populous LGA in Borno State. It had a population of 540,016 at the 2006 census, projected to 791,200 by 2022, well ahead of Gwoza and Bama, the next-largest LGAs.
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