Although the traditional rulers no longer officially have political power, they still have considerable status in Nigeria and the power of patronage.[1]
Except where otherwise noted, names of traditional rulers are based on the World Statesmen.org list.[2]
| State | Region | Ethnic
Group | Capital | Present ruler | Ruler
from | Title | Notes |
|---|
| Abeokuta | Southwest | Yoruba | Abeokuta | Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III | 2005 | Alake |
| Abuja | | Now the Suleja Emirate |
| Abureni Kingdom | Southsouth | Ogbia | Iduma | King Collins Ebi Daniel | 2008 | Olila-Ebhugh |
| Adamawa | North | Yola | Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa | 2010 | Lamido |
| Agaie | North | Nupe | Agaie | Alhaji Yussuf Nuhu | 2014 | Etsu |
| Agbor | South | Igbo | Agbor | Benjamin Ikechukwu Kiagborekuzi I | 1979 | Obi/Dein |
| Akure | Southwest | Yoruba | Akure | Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi | 2015 | Deji |
| Akwa Akpa | Southeast | Efik | Calabar | Bassey Ekpo Bassey II | 2008 | Edidem |
|
| Bade | North | Kanuri | Gashua | Abubakar Umar Suleiman | 2005 | Mai-Bedde |
| Bashar State | North | Basharawa | Bashar, Nigeria | Adamu Idris | 1963 | Sarki |
| Bauchi | North | Hausa/Fulani | Bauchi | Rilwanu Adamu Jumba | 2010 | Emir |
| Benin | Southwest | Edo | Benin City | Ewuare II | 2016 | Oba |
| Bida | North | Nupe | Bida | Yahaya Abubakar | 2003 | Etsu |
| Biu | North | Biu | Mai Umar Mustafa Aliyu | 1989 | Emir |
| Birnin Gwari | North | Gwari/Hausa | Birnin Gwari | Malam Zubairu Jibrin Mai Gwari II | 1993 | Emir |
| Rivers | Southsouth | Ekpeye | Ahoada | Robinson Okpoluwon Robinson CON | 1978 | Eze Ekpeyelogbo |
| Bonny | Southeast | Ijaw | Bonny | Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III | 1996 | Amanyanabo | Also called Okolo-Ama |
| Borgu | North | 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 | Southeast | Ijaw | Brass, Nigeria | Alfred Diete-Spiff | Amayanabo | Once part of Nembe |
| Bussa | | See Borgu |
| Calabar (Old) | | - |
| Calabar (New) | | see Kalabari Kingdom |
| Damaturu | North | 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[3] | 2010 | Shehu | Divided into Bama and Dikwa Emirates in 2010 |
| Edo | | See Benin |
| Eko | | see Lagos |
| Eri | South East | Igbo | Aguleri | Eze Chukwuemeka Eri, Ezeora XXXIV | 1976 | Eze Eri | The Custodian of the Sacred Ovo Eri |
| 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 | Hausa city-state |
| Gombe | North | Hausa/Fulani | Gombe | Abubakar Shehu Abubakar | 2014 | Modibo |
| Gujba | North | Gujba | Mai Shettima Muktar Ibn Ali Gangaram | 2000 | Emir | Formerly part of the Fika Emirate |
| Gumel | North | 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 |
| Ibadan | Southwest | Yoruba | Ibadan | Saliu Adetunji | 2016 | Olubadan |
| Idah | | see Igala |
| Idoani | Southwest | Yoruba | Idoani | Olufemi Olutoye | 2014 | Alani |
| Idoma | Southeast | Idoma | Otukpo | Elias Ikoyi Obekpa Och'Idoma IV | Och'Idoma |
| Igala | North | Igala | Idah | Idakuwo Ameh Oboni | 2012 | Ata |
| Igbirra | Southwest | Igbirra | Okene | Ado Ibrahim | 1997 | Ohinoyi |
| 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 the Lords of Remo |
| Ijesa | | see Ilesa |
| Ile Ife | Southwest | Yoruba | Ife | Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II | 2015 | Ooni |
| Ilesa Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | Ilesa | Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II | Owa |
| Ilorin | North | Yoruba/Fulani | Ilorin | Ibrahim Sulu Gambari | Emir |
| Ipokia Kingdom | Southwest | Yoruba | Ipokia | Raufu Oladeinde Adetunji Adeole Onigbaale III | 1985 | Onipokia |
| Isedo | Southwest | Yoruba | Ila Orangun | Oyedeji Ajide | Obalumo | Related to the Igbomina state of Oke Ila |
| 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 Warri |
| Iroko | Southwest | Yoruba | Iroko | Olasunkanmi Abioye Opeola,Kurunloju I | 2011 | Oniroko |
| Jajere | North | Fulani,Kanuri,Karekare and Ngizim | Tarmuwa | Mai Hamza Mai Buba Ibn Isa Mashio | 2000 | First Class Emir, Mai, Lamido also use the name Sarkin Jajere. Yobe | divided into Jajere & Ngelzarma Emirates |
| Jama'are | North | Jama'are | Muhammadu Wabi IV dan Muhammadu Wabi | 1975 | Emir |
| Jema'a | North | Jema'a | Muhammadu dan Isa | 1999 | Emir |
| Jos | Middle belt | Jos | Jacob Gyang Buba | 2009 | Gbong Gwon |
| Jukun | | see Wukari |
| Kaiama | | Merged with Bussa into Borgu |
| Kalabari | Southeast | Ijaw | Buguma | Amakiri XI (Theophilus J.T. Princewill) | 2002 | Amanyanabo |
| Kano | North | Hausa/Fulani | Kano | Sanusi Lamido Sanusi | 2014 | Emir |
| 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 |
| Kebbi | North | Hausa/Fulani | Birnin Kebbi | Sama'ila Muhammad Mera | 1996 | Amir Argungu |
| Keffi | North | Keffi | Muhammadu Cindo Yamusa II | Emir |
| Kontagora | North | Hausa/Fulani | Kontagora | Sa`idu Namaska dan Malam | 1974 | Sarkin Sudan |
| Koton Karifi | North | Ebira | Koton Karifi | AIhaji Shuaibu Mamman Lafiya[4] | 1970 | Ohimege |
| Lafia | North | Lafia | Isa Mustafa Agwa | 1978 | Emir |
| Lafiagi | North | | Lafiagi | Sa'adu Kawu Haliru | 1975 | Emir | Fulani jihad state founded 1824 |
| Lagos | Southwest | Yoruba | Lagos | Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu I | 2003 | Oba | Formerly the Eko state |
| Lapai | North | Nupe | Lapai | Umaru Bago Tafida | 2002 | Emir |
| Lere | North | Lere | Umaru Mohammed Sani | Emir |
| Machina | North | Machina | Alhaji Bashir Albishir Bukar[5] | Emir |
| Misau | North | Misau | Ahmed Suleiman | 2015 | Emir |
| Mubi | North | Mubi | Abu Bakar `Isa Ahmadu | Emir |
| Muri Taraba | North | Hausa/Fulani | Muri Taraba | Alhaji Abbas Tafida[6] | 1988 | Emir |
| Nasarawa | North | Lafia | Ibrahim Ramalan Abubakar | 1992 | Emir |
| Nembe | Southeast | Ijaw | Nembe | Edmund Maduabebe Daukoru, Mingi XII | 2008 | Amanyanabo |
| Nembe Bassambiri | Southeast | Ijaw | Bassambiri | Amanyanabo |
| Ningi | North | Hausa/Fulani | Ningi | Yunusa Muhammad Danyaya | Chief |
| Nnewi | Southeast | Igbo | Nnewi | Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III | 1963 | Igwe |
| Nri | Southeast | Igbo | Igbo-Ukwu | Eze Nri Ènweleána II Obidiegwu Onyeso | 1988 | Eze Nri |
| Obioko | Southeast | Obioko | Ekpo Eyo Abassi Eyo III | 2008 | Obong |
| Oke Ila | 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 |
| Okolo-Ama | Southeast | Ijaw | Bonny | Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III | 1996 | Amanyanabo | Known as Bonny in colonial times |
| Okpe | South-South | Urhobo | Orerokpe | Orhue I | 2006 | Orodje |
| Okrika | Southeast | Okrika | Alfred Semenitari Abam Ado IX | 2002 | Amanyanabo |
| Igbomina Kingdom | North Central | Igbomina/Yoruba | Omu-Aran | Oba Charles Oladele Ibitoye Adogbajale bi ileke II | 1993 | Olomu | Related to the Igbomina state in general |
| Owu | Southwest | Yoruba | Ogun | Dr. Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu II | 2005 | Olowu |
| Ondo | Southwest | Yoruba | Ondo | Adesimbo Victor Kiladejo | 2006 | Osemawe |
| Onitsha | Southeast | Igbo | Onitsha | Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe | 2002 | Obi |
| Opobo | Southeast | Ijaw | Ikot-Abasi | Daneson Douglas Jaja V | 2002 | Amanyanabo |
| Oshogbo | Southwest | Yoruba | Oshogbo | Ataoja |
| Owerri | Southeast | Igbo | Owerri | Eze Emmanuel E. Njemanze | 1989 | Ozuruigbo |
| Owo | Southwest | Yoruba | Owo | Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi III | 1999 | Owo |
| Oyo Empire | Southwest | Yoruba | Oyo | Lamidi Adeyemi III | 1970 | Alaafin |
| Pategi | North | Nupe | Pategi | Haliru Ibrahim Chatta | Etsu |
| Potiskum | North | Ngizim | Potiskum | Umar Bubaram[7] | Emir | Not to be confused with the Fika Emirate, based in the same town |
| Sokoto | North | Hausa/Fulani | Sokoto | Sa’adu Abubakar | 2006 | Sultan | See also List of Sultans of Sokoto |
| Suleja | North | Hausa/Fulani | Suleja | Awwal Ibrahim | 2000 | Sarkin Zazzau | Formerly Abuja Emirate |
| Tiv | Middle belt | Tiv | Gboko | Prof James Ayatse | 2016 | Tor Tiv |
| Tula Chiefdom | North | Tula | Kaltungo, Gombe | Abubakar Buba Atare II | 2009 | Mai |
| Ubani | | see Okolo-Ama |
| Warri | Southwest | Itsekiri | Warri | Ogiame Ikenwoli I | 2015 | Olu | Formerly Olu of Itsekiri. See also Warri Crisis |
| Wase | North | Fulani | Wase | Dr Muhammadu Sambo Haruna | October 2010 | Emir | Fulani Emirate |
| Wukari | Middle belt | Jukun | Wukari | Shekarau Angyu Masa Ibi Kuvyon II | Aku Uka |
| Yauri | North | Hausa/Fulani | Yauri | Muhammad Zayyanu | Sarkin |
| Zamfara | North | Hausa/Fulani | Gusau | Muhammad Attahiru Ahmad | Sarkin |
| Zaria | | Alternate name for Zazzau Emirate |
| Zazzau | North | Hausa/Fulani | Zaria | Shehu Idris | 1975 | Sarkin | Ruler of Suleja Emirate also uses the title "Sarkin Zazzau" |
1. ^{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6924870.stm |title=Nigerians go crazy for a title |author=Chris Ewokor |work=BBC News |date=1 August 2007 |accessdate=2010-09-01}}
2. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Nigeria_native.html |title=Traditional States of Nigeria |work=WorldStatesmen.org |accessdate=2010-09-01}}
3. ^{{cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201003290445.html|title=Kingmakers Crown New Shehu of Dikwa|work=Daily Independent|author=Abdulkareem Haruna|date=28 March 2010|accessdate=2010-09-01}}
4. ^{{cite web |url = http://www.nigerianobservernews.com/26102009/news/insideedo/indexnews2.html |title = Otaru Tasks Ebira Nation On Unity |work = Nigerian Observer |author = PIUS ALAO |date = 2009-10-26 |accessdate = 2010-09-04 |deadurl = yes |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110726115728/http://www.nigerianobservernews.com/26102009/news/insideedo/indexnews2.html |archivedate = 2011-07-26 |df = }}
5. ^{{cite web |url=http://machinanigeria.org/emirate.php |title=Machina Emirate Council |publisher=Machina Emirate |accessdate=2010-09-02}}
6. ^{{cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200310310756.html |title=Emir of Muri Crisis Resolved - Nyame |work=Daily Trust |author=Tashikalmah Hallah |date=13 July 1988 |accessdate=2010-09-04}}
7. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.peoplesdaily-online.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11428:mai-potiskum-hails-appointment-of-bauchi-emir-&catid=16:national-news&Itemid=33 |title=Mai Potiskum hails appointment of Bauchi Emir |date=9 August 2010 |author=Japhet Madaki |work=Peoples Daily |accessdate=2010-09-01}}
{{Expand list|date=August 2008}}{{Nigerian traditional states}}