# List of Nigerian traditional states

There are many traditional states in Nigeria. A partial list follows. Although the traditional rulers no longer officially have political power, they still have considerable status in Nigeria and the power of patronage. Except where otherwise noted, names of traditional rulers are based on the World Statesmen.org list.
| State | Region | Ethnic group | Capital | Present ruler | Accession date | Title | Notes |
| Abuja | | | | | | | Now the Suleja Emirate |
| Abureni Kingdom | Southsouth | Ogbia-Ijaw | Iduma | Collins Ebi Daniel | 2008 | Olila-Ebhugh | |
| Adamawa | North | Fulani | Yola | Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa | 2010 | Lamido | |
| Adara Chiefdom | Middle Belt | Adara | Kachia | Maiwada Galadima | 2007 | Agom Adara | |
| Ado-Odo | Southwest | Yoruba | Ado-Odo | Olusola Idris Osolo Otenibotemole II | 2024 | Olofin Adimula Oodua | Formerly Oba of Ado |
| Agaie | North | Nupe | Agaie | Yussuf Nuhu | 2014 | Etsu | |
| Agbor | South | Ika | Agbor | Benjamin Ikechukwu Kiagborekuzi I | 1979 | Dein | |
| Anyama Clan | Southsouth | Ogbia-Ijaw | Anyama-Ogbia | King Theophilus Omie | | Obanobhan | Anyama Clan also known as Anyama District made up of 17 communities |
| Anyama-Ogbia Kingdom | Southsouth | Ogbia-Ijaw | Anyama Town | Vacant (held by the House of Okori, in the Obi-Adeh Royal Dynasty of Anyama-Ogbia) | | Obenema | Anyama-Ogbia is the headquarters of Anyama Clan |
| Ake | Southwest | Yoruba | Abeokuta | Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III | 2005 | Alake | Part of the confederation of Egbaland |
| Akure | Southwest | Yoruba | Akure | Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi | 2015 | Deji | |
| Akwa Akpa | Southeast | Ibibio | Calabar | Bassey Ekpo Bassey II | 2008 | Edidem | |
| Atyap Chiefdom | Middle Belt | Atyap | Zangon Kataf | Dominic Yahaya | 2016 | Agwatyap or Agwam Atyap | |
| Badagry | South west | Gunu/Yoruba | Badagry | De Wheno-Aholu-Menu-Toyi 1 | 1977 | Oba Akran of Badagry | |
| Bade | North | Bade | Gashua | Abubakar Umar Suleiman | 2005 | Mai Bade | |
| Bajju Chiefdom | Middle Belt | Bajju | Zonkwa | Nuhu Bature | 1995 | Agwam Bajju | |
| Bashar State | North | Basharawa | Bashar | Adamu Idris | 1963 | Sarki | |
| Bauchi | North | Gera/Fulani | Bauchi | Rilwanu Adamu Jumba | 2010 | Emir | |
| Benin | South | Edo | Benin City | Ewuare II | 2016 | Oba | |
| Bichi | North | Hausa | Bichi | Nasiru Ado Bayero | 2019 | Emir | |
| Bida | North | Nupe | Bida | Yahaya Abubakar | 2003 | Etsu | |
| Biu | North | Bura | Biu | Mustapha Umar Mustapha II | 2020 | Emir | |
| Birnin Gwari | North | Gwari/Hausa | Birnin Gwari | Zubairu Jibrin Mai Gwari II | 1993 | Emir | |
| Bonny | South | Ijaw | Bonny | Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekunle IX | 1996 | Amanayanabo | Also called Okolo-Ama |
| Borgu | Middle Belt | Bariba | New Bussa | Muhammad Haliru Dantoro Kitoro IV | 2015 | Emir | Formed by merging Bussa and Kaiama |
| Borno | North | Kanuri | Maiduguri | Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi | 2009 | Shehu | |
| Brass | South-south | Ijaw | Brass, Nigeria | King Alfred Diete-Spiff | | Amanayanabo | Once part of Nembe |
| Bussa | | | | | | | See Borgu |
| Bwari/Bwaya Kingdom | Middle belt | Gbagyi/Gwari | Bwari/Bwaya Kingdom | Ibrahim Yaro | 2007 | Esu | |
| Calabar (Old) | | | | | | | see Akwa Akpa |
| Calabar (New) | | | | | | | see Kalabari Kingdom |
| Damaturu | North | Kanuri | Damaturu | Hashimi II El-Kanemi | | Emir | |
| Daura | North | Hausa/Fulani | Daura | Faruk Umar Faruk | 2007 | Emir | |
| Dikwa | North | Kanuri | Dikwa | Mohammed Masta II Ibn Alamin El-Kanemi | 2010 | Shehu | Divided into Bama and Dikwa Emirates in 2010 |
| Ebira | Middle Belt | Igbirra | Koton Karifi | Shuaibu Mamman Lafiya | 1970 | Ohimegye | |
| Ebiraland | Middle Belt | Ebira | Okene | Ahmed Tijane Anaje | 2024 | Ohinoyi | |
| Edem | South East | Igala/Igbo | Edem | Nwabueze Annekwempaha Ezea II | July 2009 | Eze Edem | The king's traditional salutation is Agaba-Idu. Formerly known as Christopher Nwabueze Ezea II, he took a regnal name on the anniversary of his decennial on the throne. |
| Edo | | | | | | | See Benin |
| Eko | | | | | | | see Lagos |
| Ekpeye Kingdom | Southsouth | Igbo | Ekpeye | Robinson Okpoluwon Robinson CON | 1978 | Eze Ekpeyelogbo | |
| Eri | Southeast | Igbo | Aguleri | Chukwuemeka Eri, Ezeora XXXIV | 1976 | Eze Eri | The Custodian of the Sacred Ovo Eri |
| Fantswam (Kafanchan) Chiefdom | Middle Belt | Atyap | Kafanchan | Josiah Kantiyok | 2019 | Agwam Fantswam | Renamed "Zikpak Chiefdom" by the Kaduna State governor, Nasir Elrufai |
| Fika | North | Bole | Potiskum | Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa | 2009 | Moi | Distinct from the Potiskum Emirate, also based in Potiskum |
| Gobir | North | Hausa/Fulani | Sabon Birni | | | Sarkin | Originally a Hausa city-state, conquered by the Fulani in the 19th century |
| Gombe | North | Fulani | Gombe | Abubakar Shehu Abubakar | 2014 | Modibo | |
| Gujba Emirate | North | Kanuri | Gujba | Mai Muktar Ibn Ali Gangaram | 2000 | Emir | Formerly part of the Kanem Bornu Empire]] |
| Gumel | North | Hausa/Fulani and Kanuri | Gumel | Ahmad Muhammad Sani dan Maina Muhammad | 1981 | Emir | |
| Gusau | North | Hausa/Fulani | Gusau | Muhammadu Kabir Danbaba | 1997 | Emir or Sarkin Katsina | The rulers of Katsina and Maradi also use the title "Sarkin Katsina" |
| Gwandu | North | Hausa/Fulani | Gwandu | Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar | | Emir | |
| Hadejia | North | Hausa/Fulani | Hadejia | Adamu Abubakar Maje | 2002 | Emir | |
| Ham (Jaba) Chiefdom | Middle Belt | Ham | Kwoi | Jonathan Gyet Maude | 1974 | Kpop Ham | |
| Ibadan Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | Ibadan | Owolabi Olakulehin | 2024 | Olubadan | |
| Idah | | | | | | | see Igala |
| Idoani | Southwest | Yoruba | Idoani | Olufemi Olutoye | 2014 | Alani | |
| Idoma Kingdom | Middle Belt | Idoma | Otukpo | Elias Ikoyi Obekpa Och'Idoma IV | | Och'Idoma | |
| Igala | Middle Belt | Igala | Idah | Idakwo Ameh Oboni II | 2012 | Attah | |
| Igbomina Kingdom | Middle Belt | Yoruba | Omu-Aran | Abdulraheem Oladele Adeoti (Olomu Efon II) | 1993 | Olomu | Related to the Igbomina state in general |
| Ijebu Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | Ijebu Ode | Sikiru Kayode Adetona Ogbagba II | 1960 | Awujale | |
| Ijebu-Remo | Southwest | Yoruba | Sagamu | Babatunde Adewale Ajayi | 2017 | Akarigbo | See also Ijebu Kingdom, List of rulers of Remo |
| Ijesaland | | | | | | | see Ilesa |
| Ikale Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | Ikoya Ikale | George Faduyile, Adegun ll | 1998 | Abodi | Paramount Rulers of Ikale land Okitipupa, Irele and Odigbo local government |
| Ikateland Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | Lagos | Alayeluwa Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla II | 27 April 2010 | Oba | House of Kusenla |
| Ile Ife | Southwest | Yoruba | Ife | Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II | 2015 | Ooni | One of the two ranking Yoruba monarchs |
| Ilesa Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | Ilesa | Clement Adeyusi Haastrup | 2024 | Owa | |
| Ilorin | Middle Belt | Yoruba/Fulani | Ilorin | Ibrahim Sulu Gambari | | Emir | |
| Ipokia Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | Ipokia | Raufu Oladeinde Adetunji Adeole Onigbaale III | 1985 | Onipokia | |
| Iroko Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | Iroko | Olasunkanmi Abioye Opeola, Kurunloju I | 2011 | Oniroko | |
| Isedo | Southwest | Yoruba | Ila Orangun | Oyedeji Ajide | | Obalumo | Related to the Isedo Clan (with its own Obalumo) of the Igbomina state of Oke Ila Orangun |
| Isinkan | Southwest | Yoruba | Isinkan | | | Iralepo | |
| Itele | Southwest | Yoruba | Itele, Ijebu-East | Mufutau Adesanya Kasali Iboriaran I | 2003 | Moyegeso | See also Ijebu Kingdom, Jones Adenola Ogunde Adeyoruwa II reigned until 1996 |
| Itsekiri | | | | | | | see Kingdom of Warri |
| Jajere Emirate | North | Fulani | Tarmuwa | Hamza Mai Buba Ibn Isa Mashio | 2000 | Emir, Mai, Lamido or Sarkin Jajere | divided into Jajere & Ngelzarma Emirates |
| Jama'are Emirate | North | Hausa/Fulani | Jama'are | Muhammadu Wabi IV dan Muhammadu Wabi | 1975 | Emir | |
| Jema'a Emirate | Middle Belt | Hausa/Fulani | Jema'a | Muhammadu dan Isa | 1999 | Emir | |
| Jos | Middle belt | Berom | Jos | Jacob Gyang Buba | 2009 | Gbong Gwom | |
| Jukun | | | | | | | see Wukari |
| Kagara Emirate Kagoro | Middle Belt | Hausa/Fulani Atyap | Kagoro | Alhaji Ahmad Garba Gunna Attahiru II Ufuwai Bonet | 2021 2008 | Emir Agwam Agworok | A diarchy |
| Kaiama | | | | | | | Merged with Bussa into Borgu |
| Kalabari | Southsouth | Ijaw | Buguma | | | Amanyanabo | |
| Kano | North | Hausa/Fulani | Kano | Muhammadu Sanusi II | 2024 | Emir | |
| Karu Kingdom | Middle Belt | Gbagyi/Gwari | Karu | Luka Panya Baba | 2004 | Esu | |
| Katagum | North | Fulani/Kanuri | Katagum | Umar Muhammadu Kabir Umar | 2017 | Emir | |
| Katsina | North | Hausa/Fulani | Katsina | Abdulmumini Kabir Usman | 2008 | Emir or Sarkin Katsina | The rulers of Gusau and Maradi also use the title "Sarkin Katsina" |
| Kazaure | North | Hausa/Fulani | Kazaure | Najib Husaini Adamu | | Emir | |
| Keana Chiefdom | Middle Belt | Agatu | Keana | Abdullahi Amegwa | 2016 | Osana of Keana | |
| Kebbi | North | Hausa/Fulani | Birnin Kebbi | Sama'ila Muhammad Mera | 1996 | Amir Argungu | |
| Keffi Emirate | Middle Belt | Hausa/Fulani | Keffi | Muhammadu Cindo Yamusa II | | Emir | |
| Kontagora | Middle Belt | Hausa/Fulani | Kontagora | Muhammad Bara'u Mu'azu | 2021 | Sarkin Sudan | |
| Kumbwada | Niger State | | | Hajiya Haidzatu Ahmed | 1998 | Queen | |
| Kupa | Middle Belt | Kupa/Nupe | Abugi | Muhammadu Kabiru Isah II | 1967 | Maiyaki | |
| Lafia | North | Kanuri | Lafia | Sidi Bage | 2019 | Emir | Sarkin Lafia |
| Lafiagi Emirate | Middle Belt | Nupe | Lafiagi | Mohammed Kudu Kawu | 2021 | Etsu | Fulani jihad state founded 1824 |
| Lagos | Southwest | Yoruba | Lagos | Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu I | 2003 | Oba | Formerly known as Eko |
| Lapai | Middle Belt | Nupe | Lapai | Umaru Bago Tafida | 2002 | Etsu | |
| Lere | Middle Belt | | Lere | Umaru Mohammed Sani | | Emir | |
| Machina | North | Manga | Machina | Bashir Albishir Bukar | | Emir | |
| Misau Emirate | North | Kanuri/Fulani | Misau | Ahmed Suleiman | 2015 | Emir | |
| Moroa | Middle Belt | Atyap | Manchok | Tagwai Sambo | 1966 | Agwam Asholyio | |
| Mubi Emirate | Middle Belt | | Mubi | Abu Bakar Isa Ahmadu | | Emir | |
| Muri Taraba | Middle Belt | Hausa/Fulani | Muri Taraba | Abbas Tafida | 1988 | Emir | |
| Nasarawa Emirate | Middle Belt | Hausa/Fulani | Nasarawa | Ibrahim Usman Jibril | 2018 | Emir | |
| Nembe | Southsouth | Ijaw | Nembe | Edmund Maduabebe Daukoru, Mingi XII | 2008 | Amanyanabo | |
| Nembe Bassambiri | Southsouth | Ijaw | Bassambiri | | | Amanyanabo | |
| Ningi | North | Hausa/Fulani | Ningi | Yunusa Muhammad Danyaya | 2024 | Chief | |
| Nnewi | Southeast | Igbo | Nnewi | Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III | 1963 | Igwe | |
| Nri | Southeast | Igbo | Agukwu | Enweleana II Obidiegwo Onyeso | 1988 | Eze Nri | Holder of the highest and most revered ofo in Igboland, the Ofo Nri-Menri. |
| Obioko Kingdom | Southeast | | Obioko | Ekpo Eyo Abassi Eyo III | 2008 | Obong | |
| Ogbia Kingdom | Southsouth | Ogbia-Ijaw | Ogbia Town | Charles Dumaro Owaba, Obanobhan III | 2017 | Obanobhan | |
| Oke Ila Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | Oke Ila | Olufemi Oladapo Babalola | | Obalumo | Related to the Igbomina state of Isedo |
| Oke-Ona Egba | Southwest | Yoruba | Abeokuta | Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso Karunwi III | 1989 | Oshile | Part of the confederation of Egbaland |
| Okolo-Ama | | | | | | | Otherwise known as Bonny since colonial times |
| Okpe | South-South | Urhobo | Orerokpe | Orhue I | 2006 | Orodje | |
| Okrika | Southeast | | Okrika | Alfred Semenitari Abam Ado IX | 2002 | Amanyanabo | |
| Ondo | Southwest | Yoruba | Ondo | Adesimbo Victor Kiladejo | 2006 | Osemawe | |
| Onitsha | Southeast | Igbo | Onitsha | Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe | 2002 | Obi | |
| Orlu | Southeast | Igbo | Orlu | Patrick II Acholonu | 2009 | Igwe XI, Duru IX | |
| Oshogbo | Southwest | Yoruba | Oshogbo | Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun | 2010 | Ataoja | |
| Owerri | Southeast | Igbo | Owerri | Emmanuel E. Njemanze | 1989 | Ozuruigbo | |
| Owo | Southwest | Yoruba | Owo | Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III | 2019 | Olowo | |
| Owu | Southwest | Yoruba | Abeokuta | Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu II | 2005 | Olowu | Part of the confederation of Egbaland |
| Oyo | Southwest | Yoruba | Oyo | | | Alaafin | One of the two ranking Yoruba monarchs |
| Pategi | Middle Belt | Nupe | Pategi | Umar Bologi II | 2019 | Etsu | |
| Potiskum | North | Ngizim | Potiskum | Umar Bubaram | | Emir | Not to be confused with the Fika Emirate, based in the same town |
| Rano | North | Hausa/Fulani | | | | | |
| Sokoto | North | Hausa/Fulani | Sokoto | Sa'adu Abubakar | 2006 | Sultan | See also List of Sultans of Sokoto |
| Suleja | Middle Belt | Hausa/Fulani | Suleja | Awwal Ibrahim | 2000 | Sarkin Zazzau | Formerly Abuja Emirate |
| Tiv | Middle belt | Tiv | Gboko | James Ayatse | 2016 | Tor Tiv | |
| Tula Chiefdom | Middle Belt | Tula | Kaltungo, Gombe | Abubakar Buba Atare II | 2009 | Mai | |
| Ubani | | | | | | | see Bonny |
| Ugbo-Igbo | Southeast | Igbo | Ugbo town | Godwin Ebem Udeonu | October 1978 | Igwe | |
| Ugbo Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | Ilaje | Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan | 2009 | Olugbo | |
| Ughelli Kingdom | Southsouth | Urhobo | Otovowodo | Ajuwe Oharisi III | 1992 | Ovie | |
| Warri | Southsouth | Itsekiri | Ode-Itsekiri | Ogiame Atuwatse III | 2021 | Olu | Olu of Warri. See also kingdom of Warri 1478 |
| Wase | | | | Muhammadu Sambo Haruna | October 2010 | Emir | Fulani Emirate |
| Wukari | Middle Belt | Jukun | Wukari | Manu Ishaku Ada Ali | 28 January 2022 | Aku Uka | |
| Yauri | North | Hausa/Fulani | Yauri | Muhammad Zayyanu | | Sarkin | |
| Zamfara Emirate | North | Hausa/Fulani | Gusau | Muhammad Attahiru Ahmad | | Sarkin | |
| Zaria | | | | | | | Alternate name for Zazzau Emirate |
| Zazzau | North | Hausa/Fulani | Zaria | Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli | 2020 | Sarkin | The ruler of the Suleja Emirate also uses the title "Sarkin Zazzau" |