Ebonyi State
Ebonyi is a state in Nigeria's South East geopolitical zone.
- Capital
- Abakaliki
- Population
- 3.2M
- Total area
- 6,392 km²
- LGAs
- 13
- House Reps (total)
- 6
- IGR (2024)
- ₦13.2B
- Capital
- Abakaliki
- Population
- 3.2M
- 2023 estimate
- Land area
- 6,392 km²
- LGAs
- 13
- Senate seats
- 3
- IGR (2024)
- ₦13.2B
- internally generated revenue
Sub-national administrative units
Local government areas (13)
13 constitutional tier-3 units
Geopolitical synthesis
Ebonyi in the federation
Ebonyi is a state in Nigeria's South East geopolitical zone.
Bordering territories & maritime boundaries
- Land bordersAbia, Benue, Cross River, Enugu
Quick facts
- Date created
- 1996
- Known as
- Salt of the Nation
- Population
- ~3,200,000
- Climate classification
- Tropical Wet & Dry / Savanna
- LGAs
- 13
- Distance to Abuja
- 309 km
Languages, stories and places to explore
Languages spoken
Major cities
Abakaliki · Afikpo
What to explore · learn
Ebonyi's nickname references Okposi and Uburu, historic centres of local salt-lake production that supplied trade routes across the pre-colonial southeast.
Ebonyi was created only in 1996, carved from Enugu and Abia States, making it one of the newest Igbo-speaking states.
Okumkpa is a satirical masquerade performance of the Afikpo (Ehugbo) Igbo.
annualAfikpo
Cultural groups & homelands
Ezza, Izzi and Ikwo
6 LGAsNorthern Ebonyi Igbo communities around Abakaliki, including Izzi, Ezza and Ikwo.
Ivo, Ohaozara and Onicha
3 LGAsIgbo communities of south-western Ebonyi State, including the Uburu and Okposi salt-lake areas.
Afikpo (Ehugbo)
2 LGAsThe Afikpo (Ehugbo) Igbo of southern Ebonyi State, known for elaborate masquerade traditions.
Major celebrations
- annualAfikpo
Metro areas
Abakaliki Metropolis
Ebonyi State's capital, historically known for rice cultivation and small-scale tin/lead mining.