Borno State
Borno is a state in Nigeria's North East geopolitical zone.
- Capital
- Maiduguri
- Population
- 6.8M
- Total area
- 72,873 km²
- LGAs
- 27
- House Reps (total)
- 10
- IGR (2024)
- ₦27.8B
- Capital
- Maiduguri
- Population
- 6.8M
- 2023 estimate
- Land area
- 72,873 km²
- LGAs
- 27
- Senate seats
- 3
- IGR (2024)
- ₦27.8B
- internally generated revenue
Sub-national administrative units
Local government areas (27)
27 constitutional tier-3 units
Geopolitical synthesis
Borno in the federation
Borno is a state in Nigeria's North East geopolitical zone.
Bordering territories & maritime boundaries
- Land bordersAdamawa, Gombe, Yobe
- International borderRepublic of Benin
Quick facts
- Date created
- 1976
- Known as
- Home of Peace
- Population
- ~6,800,000
- Climate classification
- Tropical Wet & Dry / Savanna
- LGAs
- 27
- Distance to Abuja
- 698 km
Languages, stories and places to explore
Languages spoken
Major cities
Maiduguri · Bama · Dikwa
What to explore · learn
Borno's name descends from the historic Kanem-Bornu Empire, one of Africa's longest-surviving states, dating back over a thousand years.
Borno's 'Home of Peace' nickname predates the security challenges of the 2010s-2020s and reflects its historical role as a centre of Islamic scholarship and trans-Saharan trade.
The Shehu of Borno heads the Borno Emirate, succeeding the ancient Mai of Kanem-Bornu.
MaiduguriThe Mai of Biu rules the Bura (Babur) chiefdom of the Biu plateau.
Biu
Cultural groups & homelands
Kanuri heartland
18 LGAsCore Kanuri-speaking LGAs of Borno State, successors of the Kanem-Bornu Empire and the Shehu of Borno's domain.
Bura (Babur) and Biu
5 LGAsThe Bura (Babur) and related communities of the Biu plateau in southern Borno State, under the Mai of Biu.
Marghi, Kibaku and Gwoza hill peoples
4 LGAsMarghi, Kibaku (Chibok) and Gwoza hill peoples of southern Borno State.
Cultural institutions
The Shehu of Borno heads the Borno Emirate, succeeding the ancient Mai of Kanem-Bornu.
Maiduguri
The Mai of Biu rules the Bura (Babur) chiefdom of the Biu plateau.
Biu
Metro areas
Maiduguri Metropolis
Borno State's capital, historic seat of the Borno Emirate and successor to the ancient Kanem-Bornu Empire.