Niger State is a place for tourists especially for its number of tourist centers. Apart from having an almost similar name as Nigeria, Niger State is one of Nigeria’s greatest territories. The state is named after the River Niger and the capital city is Minna. Two of Nigeria’s major hydroelectric power stations, the Kainji Dam and the Shiroro Dam are located in the state. Suleja, a major city in Niger State is the closest city to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. In fact, the popular Zuma rock seen in the FCT is located in Niger State. The state also shares a boundary with Kwara State. They have within their boundary the Kainji Lake, the Borgu Game Reserve and the Zugurma Game Reserve.
Niger State is a vast land with 25 Local Government Areas with a lot of exciting and historical places to visit. The LGAs are Agaie, Agwara, Bida, Borgu, Bosso, Chanchaga, Edati, Gbako, Gurara, Katcha, Kontagora and Lapai. Others are Lavun, Magama, Mariga, Mashagu, Mokwa, Munya, Paikoro, Rafi, Rijau, Shiroro, Suleja, Tafa, and Washishi.
TRANSPORTATION
The state could be accessed through the roads and air route. The destination for tourists/travelers coming to the Northwestern state is the Minna Airport. The airport is located 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) northwest of the capital city.
PLACES TO VISIT
Located near the famous Kainji Hydroelectric Dam is the Kainji National Park. It is established from a merger of two game reserves (Borgu and Zugurma). It is home to a variety of wildlife, including monkeys, elephants, baboons, lions and so on. You can as well explore nature in this territory. Make sure you bring along a sunscreen/shade, mosquito repellant, light clothing and good walking shoes as you tour with your family and friends.
Bida Local Government Area is home to Bida brass works which is known as the home of beautiful brass works. These brass works hope to tell the story of its people through artistic expressions of zinc and copper. There is a cliché here in Bida, it is said that before you can marry a woman in Bida, you have to pay the brass price. That’s how enormous brass is in this part of Nigeria. Bida is also home to the famous Durbar festival where horses are clad in various costumes.
Bina Footprints is also a place to visit by tourists, archaeologists, adventurers and historians. The Bina Footprints is called Dauda Woyaba by the locals. Visible footprints are seen on a rock at a hill in a village called Bina. Myth has it that it was a man called Dabo that has the footprints when he was observing his ablution rites.
Other notable sites include; Lord Lugard Colonial Ruins, Zuma Rock, and a host of tertiary institutions in the state.
