Kogi State sits in Nigeria’s North Central zone, with its capital at Lokoja. The state has 21 local government areas and had a population of 3,314,043 at the 2006 census, projected to 4,466,800 by 2022. Kogi grew from 2,147,756 people at the 1991 census, and its population has kept climbing at a similar pace since. The state was created in 1991 from parts of the old Kwara and Benue states, and Lokoja itself served briefly as Nigeria’s colonial administrative headquarters before independence. Every LGA below links to its full town-and-village list where we cover it.
Local Government Areas in Kogi State
The table lists all 21 official LGAs alphabetically, with census and projected population figures. Okene and Ankpa carry the largest populations in the state, while Ogori/Magongo and Mopa-Muro are the smallest by headcount.
| LGA | 2006 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Adavi | 217,219 | 292,800 |
| Ajaokuta | 122,432 | 165,000 |
| Ankpa | 266,176 | 358,800 |
| Bassa | 139,687 | 188,300 |
| Dekina | 260,968 | 351,700 |
| Ibaji | 127,572 | 171,900 |
| Idah | 79,755 | 107,500 |
| Igalamela-Odolu | 147,048 | 198,200 |
| Ijumu | 118,593 | 159,800 |
| Kabba/Bunu | 144,579 | 194,900 |
| Kogi | 115,100 | 155,100 |
| Lokoja | 196,643 | 265,000 |
| Mopa-Muro | 43,760 | 59,000 |
| Ofu | 191,480 | 258,100 |
| Ogori/Magongo | 39,807 | 53,700 |
| Okehi | 223,574 | 301,300 |
| Okene | 325,623 | 438,900 |
| Olamaboro | 158,490 | 213,600 |
| Omala | 107,968 | 145,500 |
| Yagba East | 147,641 | 199,000 |
| Yagba West | 139,928 | 188,600 |
Kogi State has 21 official local government areas; 19 have full town-and-village lists on this site.
Geography
Kogi is known as the confluence state: the Niger and Benue rivers meet at Lokoja, its capital. The state borders the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Benue, Enugu, Anambra, Edo, Ekiti, Kwara, and Niger states, making it a crossing point between Nigeria’s north and south. Its terrain ranges from riverine lowlands near the confluence to hills and plateau country further from the rivers. Mount Patti rises over Lokoja and offers a wide view of the point where the two rivers merge. Guinea savanna woodland covers much of the north and centre of the state, giving way to more forested pockets in the southern LGAs near the Edo and Anambra borders. The Niger and Benue valleys flood parts of low-lying LGAs such as Ibaji and Lokoja during the rainy season, a pattern that shapes farming calendars and settlement patterns along the riverbanks. Several smaller rivers and streams drain into the two main channels, feeding fadama land used for dry-season farming once floodwaters recede. The state’s mix of river plain, savanna, and hill country supports a wide range of settlement types, from fishing villages on the riverbanks to farming towns on higher ground further inland.
Economy & Local Life
Farming drives most local economies in Kogi, with yam, cassava, rice, sesame, and guinea corn as staple crops across the LGAs. Sesame in particular has become a significant export crop for the state, grown widely in the northern and eastern LGAs. Fishing is a major livelihood along the Niger and Benue, especially around Lokoja, Ibaji, and Idah, where riverside communities sell their catch in local markets. Ajaokuta is home to Nigeria’s long-planned steel complex, built around the country’s largest untapped iron ore reserves nearby at Itakpe. Obajana, in Lokoja LGA, hosts one of Africa’s largest cement plants, drawing on the state’s extensive limestone deposits. Okene and the surrounding Ebira-speaking LGAs are known for pottery, weaving, and blacksmithing traditions alongside farming. Lokoja’s position at the river confluence supports boat transport and trade linking the north and south of the country, and its markets draw traders from neighbouring states as well as from within Kogi. Cassava processing, rice milling, and small-scale trading in farm produce provide additional income across the LGAs, alongside civil service employment tied to the state capital.
FAQ
How many local government areas are in Kogi State?
Kogi State has 21 local government areas, spread across its three geopolitical zones of Kogi East, Kogi Central, and Kogi West.
What is the capital of Kogi State?
The capital of Kogi State is Lokoja, the town that sits at the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers.
What is the population of Kogi State?
Kogi State had a population of 3,314,043 at the 2006 census, up from 2,147,756 in 1991, and projected to 4,466,800 by 2022.
Which LGA in Kogi State has the largest population?
Okene is the most populous LGA in Kogi State, with 325,623 people at the 2006 census, followed closely by Ankpa.
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