So a national population census was supposed to take place in Nigeria in year 2016 but due to the current economic crisis, the census have been postponed till 2018. So in the mean time, T.I.N Magazine just like last year have gathered figures from various sources showing Nigeria’s most populous states. Well, this is an estimation.

1. LAGOS
Population: 21 million
Lagos has been the most populated city in Nigeria for a longtime, in 2006’s population census Lagos had 7,682,953 in 2012 The population of Lagos according to the Lagos State Government was 17.5 million, a number disputed by the Nigerian Government and judged unreliable by the National Population Commission of Nigeria. The latest reports estimate the population at 21,642,797, making Lagos the largest city in Africa. Officially Lagos is known to be the second fastest-growing city in Africa and the seventh in the world. Our 2017 estimates puts the city’s population at 21,000,000.
Lagos State is a major economic centre of Nigeria. With a GDP over 90billion dollars it would be the fifth largest economy in Africa if it were a country.

2. KANO
Population: 16 million
According to the 2006 population census figures from Nigeria Kano State had a population totaling 9,383,682. Officially, Kano State was the most populous state in the country. The state is mostly populated by Hausa people. In 2011 the state estimated their population was 11,058,300 and now in 2017 our research estimated the population of the state to be approximately 14million

3. OYO
Population: 15million
Ọyọ, usually referred to as Oyo State to distinguish it from the city of Oyo, is an inland state in south-western Nigeria, with its capital at Ibadan. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east by Osun State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west partly by Ogun State and partly by the Republic of Benin.
The population of OYO was estimated at 6,617,720 as of the 2007 by the state government. But recent estimates claims the state now has 14,993,752 as the total population. Our 2016 estimates puts the state’s population at 15,000,000

4. KADUNA
Population: 12 million
Kaduna State, north central Nigeria, is politically classified as belonging to the now ‘North – West’ zone of the current six (6) Geo – political zones of Nigeria. It is populated by about 59 to 63 different ethnic groups if not more with the exactitude of the number requiring further verification through a genuine field work [Hayab, 2014]. The question t ed as id in the last paragraph with the Hausa and Fulani as the dominant ethnic groups followed by at least 60 others.
The population of Kaduna was at 6,066,562 as of the 2006 Nigerian census. But recent estimates claims the state now has 11,652,844 as the total population. Our 2016 estimates puts the state’s population at 12,000,000

5. RIVERS
Population: 11 million
According to census data released in 2006, the state has a population of 5,185,400, making it the sixth-most populous state in the country. Its capital, Port Harcourt is the largest city and is economically significant as the centre of Nigeria’s oil industry. Rivers State is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo, Abia and Anambra States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta states. It is home to many indigenous ethnic groups: Ikwerre, Ibani, Opobo, Eleme, Okrika, and Kalabari, Etche, Ogba, Ogoni, Engenni, Obolo and others.
Recent estimates claims the state now has 10,652,844 as the total population. Our 2016 estimates puts the state’s population around 11 million

6. KATSINA
Population: 10 million
Katsina State to distinguish it from the city of Katsina, is a state in North West zone of Nigeria. Its capital is Katsina. In 1987, Katsina State was formed from part of Kaduna State. The Hausa people (sometimes grouped with the Fulani as Hausa-Fulani) are the largest ethnic group.
The population of Katsina was at 5,792,578 as of the 2006 Nigerian census. But recent estimates claims the state now has 10,102,813 as the total population. Our 2016 estimates puts the state’s population at 10million

7. BAUCHI
Population: 9million
Bauchi, is a state in northern Nigeria. Its capital is the city of Bauchi. The state was formed in 1976 when the former North-Eastern State was broken up. It originally included the area now in Gombe State, which became a distinct state in 1996.
The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University is located in the capital city Bauchi.
What is now known as Bauchi was until 1976 a province in the then North-Eastern State of Nigeria. According to the 2006 census, the state has a population of 4,653,066.
Recent estimates claims the state now has 9,052,784 as the total population. Our[/b] 2016 estimates puts the state’s population around 9 million

8. ANAMBRA
Population: 8million
Anambra is a state in southeastern Nigeria. Its name is an anglicized version of the original ‘Oma Mbala’, the native name of the Anambra River. The capital and seat of government is Awka. Onitsha and Nnewi are the biggest commercial and industrial cities respectively.
The indigenous ethnic group in Anambra state are the Igbo (98% of population) and a small population of Igala (2% of the population) who live mainly in the north-western part of the state.
The population of Anambra was at 4,055,048 as of the 2006 Nigerian census. But recent estimates claims the state now has 8,352,911 as the total population. Our 2016 estimates puts the state’s population at 8million.

9. JIGAWA
Population: 8million
The socio-cultural situation in Jigawa State could be described as homogeneous: it is mostly populated by Hausa/Fulani, who can be found in all parts of the State. Kanuri are largely found in Hadejia Emirate, with some traces of Badawa mainly in its Northeastern parts. Even though each of the three dominant tribes have continued to maintain its ethnic identity, Islam and a long history of inter-marriages have continued to bind them together.

About 3.6 million people inhabit Jigawa State. Life expectancy as at 2001 was about 52 years with a total fertility rate of about 6.2 children per woman of childbearing age (a little above the national average). Although population of the State is predominantly rural (90%), the distribution in terms of sex is almost equal between male (50.8%) and female (49.2%).
The population of Jigawa was at 4,348,649 as of the 2006 Nigerian census. But recent estimates claims the state now has 8,109,251 as the total population. Our 2016 estimates puts the state’s population at 8million.

10. BENUE
Population: 8million
Benue State is a state in the mid-belt region of Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in 2006 census. It is inhabited predominantly by the Tiv and Idoma peoples, who speak the Tiv language and Idoma, respectively. The Tiv’s comprises the Etulo’s while the Idoma’s comprises the Ufia’s (Utonkon), the Igede’s, and the Agatu’s. There are other ethnic groups, including the Igede, Etulo, Abakwa, Jukun, Hausa, Igbo, Akweya and Nyifon.
Recent estimates claims the state now has 7,992,784 as the total population. Our 2016 estimates puts the state’s population around 8 million