Sokoto State sits in Nigeria’s North West geopolitical zone, with its capital at Sokoto. The state has 23 local government areas and recorded a population of 3,702,676 at the 2006 census, projected to reach 6,391,000 by 2022. Every LGA below links to its full town-and-village list on this site.
Sokoto is Nigeria’s northwesternmost state, sharing a long international border with Niger Republic and a shorter history as the seat of the 19th-century Sokoto Caliphate, founded by Usman dan Fodio. The Sultan of Sokoto still holds the traditional title of spiritual head of Nigeria’s Muslim community, and the Sultanate’s influence still shapes local government, land use, and market custom across all 23 LGAs.
Local Government Areas in Sokoto State
Sokoto State’s 23 local government areas each administer their own towns and villages. The table below gives 2006 census and 2022 projected population for every LGA, listed alphabetically.
| LGA | 2006 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Binji | 104,274 | 180,000 |
| Bodinga | 174,302 | 300,900 |
| Dange Shuni | 193,443 | 333,900 |
| Gada | 249,051 | 429,900 |
| Goronyo | 182,118 | 314,300 |
| Gudu | 95,400 | 164,700 |
| Gwadabawa | 231,569 | 399,700 |
| Illela | 150,133 | 259,100 |
| Isa | 150,268 | 259,400 |
| Kebbe | 123,154 | 212,600 |
| Kware | 134,084 | 231,400 |
| Rabah | 149,152 | 257,400 |
| Sabon Birni | 207,470 | 358,100 |
| Shagari | 156,907 | 270,800 |
| Silame | 104,601 | 180,500 |
| Sokoto North | 233,012 | 402,200 |
| Sokoto South | 197,686 | 341,200 |
| Tambuwal | 225,917 | 389,900 |
| Tangaza | 114,770 | 198,100 |
| Tureta | 68,414 | 118,100 |
| Wamakko | 179,246 | 309,400 |
| Wurno | 162,403 | 280,300 |
| Yabo | 115,302 | 199,000 |
Sokoto State has 23 official local government areas, and all 23 have full town-and-village lists on this site.
Geography
Sokoto State occupies the extreme northwest corner of Nigeria. It borders Niger Republic to the north, Kebbi State to the west and south, and Zamfara State to the east. The Sokoto River and the Rima River meet near Sokoto town, and both drain the state’s floodplains before flowing on toward the Niger River. The terrain is mostly flat to gently undulating savanna, drier and sandier in the far north near Isa and Sabon Birni, with fadama floodplains along the river valleys supporting dry-season farming.
The climate is Sahelian: a short rainy season from June to September and a long, dry harmattan season the rest of the year. Daytime temperatures climb well above average Nigerian norms in the hot months before the rains, and dust-laden harmattan winds dominate December and January. Vegetation is Sudan and Sahel savanna, with scattered acacia, baobab, and doum palm, thinning to shrub and grass as the land runs north toward the border with Niger Republic. Border LGAs such as Gada, Illela, Isa, Sabon Birni, and Tangaza sit closest to Niger Republic and carry the most cross-border foot and market traffic, while LGAs around the capital, including Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Wamakko, and Kware, form the state’s most urbanized cluster.
Economy & Local Life
Farming and livestock anchor daily life across Sokoto State. Millet, sorghum, cowpeas, and groundnuts are the leading rain-fed crops, while irrigated fadama land along the Sokoto and Rima rivers grows rice, onions, and vegetables in the dry season. Cattle, sheep, and goats are raised widely, and the state is known nationally for the “Sokoto red” goatskin trade and its leatherworking tradition. Sokoto town, seat of the Sokoto Caliphate and home to the Sultan of Sokoto, remains the region’s main trading and religious hub, with large weekly markets drawing traders from across the North West.
Fishing supplements farm income along the Sokoto and Rima river valleys, and donkeys and camels still carry goods and water in many rural communities. Blacksmithing, weaving, dyeing, and tanning are common craft trades, feeding the leather and hide markets that give the state its trading reputation. Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto town is the state’s main center of higher education, and the Sultan’s palace and the city’s old walls and gates draw visitors interested in the history of the Caliphate. Weekly and daily markets in LGA headquarters such as Bodinga, Tambuwal, Rabah, and Goronyo link surrounding villages to the wider trade network centered on Sokoto town.
FAQ
How many local government areas are in Sokoto State?
Sokoto State has 23 local government areas.
What is the capital of Sokoto State?
The capital of Sokoto State is Sokoto town.
What is the population of Sokoto State?
Sokoto State had a population of 3,702,676 at the 2006 census, projected to reach 6,391,000 by 2022.
Which LGA in Sokoto State has the largest population?
Gada is the most populous LGA in Sokoto State, with a 2022 projected population of 429,900.
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