Languages of Nigeria

There are over 525 native languages spoken in Nigeria.^[1][2][3] The official language and most widely spoken lingua franca is English,^[4][5] which was the language of Colonial Nigeria. Nigerian Pidgin – an English-based creole – is spoken by over 60 million people.^[5][6]

Languages of Nigeria
A map of languages in Nigeria and neighbouring countries
Official	English
National	Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba
Regional	Ibibio, Efik, Isoko, Edo, Tiv, Fulani, Idoma, Ijaw, Kamwe, Kanuri, Ukwuani, Urhobo, Nupe, Gbagyi
Vernacular	Nigerian Pidgin
Foreign	Arabic, French
Signed	Nigerian Sign Language Hausa Sign Language Bura Sign Language
Keyboard layout	QWERTY

The major native languages, in terms of population, are Hausa (over 63 million when including second-language, or L2, speakers), Yoruba (over 47 million, including L2 speakers), Igbo (over 31 million, including L2 speakers), Ibibio (over 10 million, including L2 speakers), Ijaw cluster (over 5 million), Fulfulde (13 million), Kanuri (4.6 million), Tiv (5 million), Nupe (3 million) and approximately 2 to 3 million each of Karai-Karai Kupa, Kakanda, Edo, Igala, Mafa, Idoma and Efik.^[7] Nigeria's linguistic diversity is a microcosm of much of Africa as a whole, and the country contains languages from the three major African language families: Afroasiatic, Nilo-Saharan and Niger–Congo. Nigeria also has several as-yet unclassified languages, such as Centúúm, which may represent a relic of an even greater diversity prior to the spread of the current language families.^[8]

English and Pidgin

English is the single most widely spoken language in Nigeria, spoken by 60 million of the population.^[9] It is the main lingua franca of the country and there are a growing number of sole English speakers due to rapid urbanization and globalization.^[10] English remains the official language and is the major language of communication in government, business and education.^[10] Furthermore, the national anthem, constitution and pledge are written in English. Almost all mass media transmit information in English.^[11] English became the official language when Nigeria was created from diverse national groups by the British Empire.^[11] Despite decolonization, Nigeria chose to make English the official language to promote national cultural unity^[12] and so not to favour any particular native language.^[11]

Despite its status, English is not widely spoken in rural areas.^[13] Many Nigerians struggle with English, evidenced by the 60 percent fail rate of the WASSCE in English (May/June 2015), an important exam certificate.^[10] Nevertheless, many Nigerians hold negative social attitudes towards the country's native languages, combining to lead to the neglect of Nigeria's many native languages. As such, there are fears from prominent linguists that Nigerian native languages are endangered and face eventual extinction.^[11]

Pidgin, first used by British and African slavers to facilitate the Atlantic slave trade in the late 17th century,^[14] has replaced the native language for many Nigerians. Many Nigerians speak Nigerian Pidgin, a creole language based on English, which is a popular social and cultural language.^[11] It has become popular in the mass media and in political slogans.^[15][16][11] According to a 2012 study, the replacement of native local languages with Pidgin is inevitable in the areas studied.^[17]

Afroasiatic languages

A map showing Afroasiatic speaking peoples in Nigeria

The Afroasiatic languages of Nigeria are divided into Chadic, Semitic and Berber.^[18] Among these categories, Chadic languages predominate, with more than 700 languages. Semitic is represented by various dialects of Arabic spoken in the Northeast and Berber by the Tuareg-speaking communities in the extreme Northwest.

The Hausa language is the best known Chadic language in Nigeria; though there is a paucity of statistics on native speakers in Nigeria, the language is spoken by 24 million people in West Africa and is the second language of 15 million more. Hausa has therefore emerged as lingua franca throughout much of West Africa, and the Sahel in particular. The language is spoken primarily amongst Northern Nigerians and is often associated with Islamic culture in Nigeria and West Africa on the whole.

Hausa is classified as a West Chadic language of the Chadic grouping, a major subfamily of Afroasiatic. Culturally, the Hausa people became closely integrated with the Fulani following the establishment of the Sokoto Caliphate by the Fulani Uthman dan Fodio in the 19th century.^{[19][20][21][22]} Hausa is the official language of several states in Northern Nigeria and the most important dialect is generally regarded as that spoken in Kano, an Eastern Hausa dialect, which is the standard variety used for official purposes.

Eastern dialects also include some dialects spoken in Zaria and Bauchi; Western Hausa dialects include Sakkwatanchi spoken in Sokoto, Katsinanchi in Katsina Arewanchi in both Gobir and Adar, Kebbi and Zamfara. Katsina is transitional between Eastern and Western dialects. Northern Hausa dialects include Arewa and Arawa, whilst Zaria is a prominent Southern version; Barikanchi is a pidgin formerly used in the military.

Hausa is a very atypical Chadic language, with a reduced tonal system and a phonology influenced by Arabic. Other well-known Chadic languages include Mupun, Ngas, Goemai, Mwaghavul, Bole, Ngizim, Bade and Bachama. In the East of Nigeria and on into Cameroon are the Central Chadic languages such as Bura, Kamwe and Margi. These are highly diverse and remain very poorly described. Many Chadic languages are severely threatened; recent searches by Bernard Caron for Southern Bauchi languages show that even some of those recorded in the 1970s have disappeared. However unknown Chadic languages are still being reported, such as the recent description of Dyarim.

Hausa, as well as other Afroasiatic languages such as, Kamwe,^[23] Margi, Karai-Karai and Bade (another West Chadic language spoken in northeastern Nigeria), have historically been written in a modified Arabic script known as ajami. However, the modern official orthography is now a romanization known as boko introduced by the British regime in the 1930s.

Niger–Congo languages

Systematic graphic of the Niger–Congo languages with numbers of speakers

Niger–Congo predominates in the Central, East and Southern areas of Nigeria; the main branches represented in Nigeria are Mande, Atlantic, Gur, Kwa, Benue–Congo and Adamawa–Ubangi.^[24] Mande is represented by the Busa cluster and Kyenga in the northwest. Fulfulde is the single Atlantic language, of Senegambian origin but now spoken by cattle pastoralists across the Sahel and largely in the northeastern states of Nigeria, especially Adamawa.

The Ijoid languages are spoken across the Niger Delta region and include Ịjọ (Ijaw), Kalabari, and the intriguing remnant language Defaka. The Ibibio language is spoken across the coastal southeastern part of Nigeria and includes the dialects Oron, Annang, and Efik proper. The single Gur language spoken is Baatọnun, in the extreme Northwest.

The Adamawa–Ubangian languages are spoken between central Nigeria and the Central African Republic. Their westernmost representatives in Nigeria are the Tula-Waja languages. The Kwa languages are represented by the Gun group in the extreme southwest, which is affiliated to the Gbe languages in Benin and Togo.

The classification of the remaining languages is controversial; Joseph Greenberg classified those without noun-classes, such as Yoruba, Igbo, and Ibibio (Efik, Oron, and Annang), as 'Eastern Kwa' and those with classes as 'Benue–Congo'. This was reversed in an influential 1989 publication and reflected on the 1992 map of languages, where all these were considered Benue–Congo. Recent opinion, however, has been to revert to Greenberg's distinction. The literature must thus be read with care and due regard for the date. There are several small language groupings in the Niger Confluence area, notably Ukaan, Akpes, Ayere-Ahan and Ọkọ, whose inclusion in these groupings has never been satisfactorily argued.

Former Eastern Kwa, i.e. West Benue–Congo would then include Igboid, i.e. Igbo language proper, Ukwuani, Ikwerre, Ekpeye etc., Yoruboid, i.e. Yoruba, Itsekiri and Igala, Akokoid (eight small languages in Ondo, Edo and Kogi state), Edoid including Edo (sometimes referred to as) Bini in Edo State, Ibibio-Efik, Idomoid (Idoma) and Nupoid (Nupe) and perhaps include the other languages mentioned above. The Idoma language is classified in the Akweya subgroup of the Idomoid languages of the Volta–Niger family, which include Alago, Agatu, Etulo and Yala languages of Benue, Nasarawa and Northern Cross River states.

East Benue–Congo includes Kainji, Plateau (46 languages, notably Gamai language), Jukunoid, Dakoid and some parts of Cross River. Apart from these, there are numerous Bantoid languages, which are the languages immediately ancestral to Bantu. These include Mambiloid, Ekoid of Cross River State, Bendi, Beboid, Grassfields and Tivoid languages.

Within the Benue-Congo languages, the expansive Bantu language family which covers much of central and southern Africa is represented in Nigeria by; Jarawa with around a quarter million speakers, making it the most spoken Bantu language in the country. Others include Mbula-Bwazza (100,000), Kulung (40,000), Labir (13,000), Bile and a few others.

An advert in Igbo in Abia State

The geographic distribution of Nigeria's Niger-Congo languages is not limited to the middle east and south-central Nigeria, as migration allows their spread to the linguistically Afro-Asiatic northern regions of Nigeria, as well as throughout West Africa and abroad. Igbo words such as 'unu' for 'you people', 'sooso' for 'only', 'obia' for 'native doctoring', etc. are used in patois of Jamaica and many Central American nations, Yoruba is spoken as a ritual language in cults such as the Santeria in the Caribbean and South-Central America, and the Berbice Dutch language in Surinam is based on an Ijoid language.

Even the above listed linguistic diversity of the Niger–Congo in Nigeria is deceptively limiting, as these languages may further consist of regional dialects that may not be mutually intelligible. As such some languages, particularly those with a large number of speakers, have been standardized and received a romanized orthography. Nearly all languages appear in a Latin alphabet when written.

The Ibibio, Igbo, and Yoruba languages are notable examples of this process. The more historically recent standardization and romanization of Igbo have provoked even more controversy due to its dialectical diversity, but the Central Igbo dialect has gained the widest acceptance as the standard-bearer. Many such as Chinua Achebe have dismissed standardization as colonial and conservative attempts to simplify a complex mosaic of languages.

Such controversies typify inter- and intra-ethnic conflict endemic to post-colonial Nigeria. Also worthy of note is the Enuani dialect, a variation of the Igbo that is spoken among parts of Anioma. The Anioma are the Aniocha, Ndokwa/Ukwuani, Ika and Oshimilli of Delta state. Standard Yoruba came into being due to the work of Samuel Crowther, the first African bishop of the Anglican Church and owes most of its lexicon to the dialects spoken in Ọyọ and Ibadan.

Since Standard Yoruba's constitution was determined by a single author rather than by a consensual linguistic policy by all speakers, the Standard has been attacked regarding for failing to include other dialects and spurred debate as to what demarcates "genuine Yoruba". Linguistically speaking, all demonstrate the varying phonological features of the Niger–Congo family to which they belong, these include the use of tone, nasality, and particular consonant and vowel systems; more information is available here.

Branches and locations

Below is a list of major Niger–Congo branches and their primary locations based on Blench (2019).^[25]

Distributions of Volta–Niger branches

Branch	Primary locations
Akpes	Akoko North LGA, Ondo State
Ayere–Ahan	Akoko North LGA, Ondo State
Gbe	Badagry LGA, Lagos State and adjacent areas
Yoruboid	South-west, Central, and South-south states of Nigeria
Edoid	Rivers, Edo, Ondo, Delta States
Akoko	Akoko North LGA, Ondo State
Igboid	Anambra, Rivers, Delta States (excluding Igbo proper)
Ibibioid	Akwa Ibom State, Cross River States
Nupoid	Niger, Kwara, Nasarawa States, Kogi, FCT
Oko	Ogori-Magongo LGA, Kogi State
Idomoid	Benue, Cross River, Nasarawa States
Ukaan	Akoko North LGA, Ondo State

Distributions of Benue–Congo branches in Nigeria

Branch	Primary locations
Cross River	Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers States
Bendi	Obudu and Ogoja LGAs, Cross River State
Mambiloid	Sardauna LGA, Taraba State; Cameroon
Dakoid	Mayo Belwa LGA, Taraba State and adjacent areas
Jukunoid	Taraba State
Yukubenic	Takum LGA, Taraba State
Kainji	Kauru LGA, Kaduna State and Bassa LGA, Plateau State; Kainji Lake area
Plateau	Plateau, Kaduna, and Nasarawa States
Tivoid	Obudu LGA, Cross River State and Sardauna LGA, Taraba State; Cameroon
Beboid	Takum LGA, Taraba State; Cameroon
Ekoid	Ikom and Ogoja LGAs, Cross River State; Cameroon
Grassfields	Sardauna LGA, Taraba State; Cameroon
Jarawan (Bantu)	Bauchi, Plateau, Adamawa, and Taraba States

Distributions of Adamawa branches in Nigeria

Branch	Primary locations
Duru (Vere)	Fufore LGA, Adamawa State
Leko	Adamawa and Taraba States; Cameroon
Mumuye	Taraba State
Yendang	Mayo Belwa and Numan LGAs, Adamawa State
Waja	Kaltungo and Balanga LGAs, Gombe State
Kam	Bali LGA, Taraba State
Baa	Numan LGA, Adamawa State
Laka	Karim Lamido LGA, Taraba State and Yola LGA, Adamawa State
Jenjo	Karim Lamido LGA, Taraba State
Bikwin	Karim Lamido LGA, Taraba State
Yungur	Song and Guyuk LGAs, Adamawa State

In addition, Ijaw languages are spoken in Rivers State, Bayelsa State, and other states of the Niger Delta region. Mande languages are spoken in Kebbi State, Niger State, and Kwara State.^[25]

Nilo-Saharan languages

In Nigeria, the Nilo-Saharan language family is represented by:

• Saharan languages:
  • Kanuri and Kanembu in the northeastern part of Nigeria in the states of Borno, Yobe and parts of Jigawa, and Bauchi states
  • Teda in northern Nigeria
• Songhai languages:
  • Zarma (Zabarma) and Dendi in Kebbi State, Zamfara State, Sokoto State, Niger State near the border with the neighbouring countries of Niger and northern Benin, also in Kaduna State, Yobe State and Lagos trading community.

• Central Sudanic languages:
  • Lau Laka, a recently discovered Central Sudanic language of Taraba State

Foreign languages

French is compulsory in all schools. In January 2016, the Minister for Education Anthony Anwukah announced a wish to make French the second language of business in Nigeria because the majority of African countries are francophone and all of Nigeria's neighbouring countries are francophone.^[10][26]

List of languages

This is a non-exhaustive list of languages spoken in Nigeria.^{[27][28][29][30]}

S/N	Language	Alternate names	Number of speakers	Native speakers	States spoken in	Current status	Language Varieties
1	Abanyom	Abanyum, Befun, Bofon, Mbofon	13,000		Cross River	Active	2
	Nigerian Pidgin English	Broken. Pidgin	80,200,000		All States
2	Abon	Abong, Abõ, Ba'ban	1,000		Taraba
3	Abua	Odual, Abuan	25,000		Rivers
4	Abureni	Mini	4,000		Bayelsa
5	Achipa	Achipawa	5,000		Kebbi
6	Adim				Cross River
7	Aduge		30,000		Anambra
8	Adun				Cross River
9	Afade	Affade, Afadeh, Afada, Kotoko, Moga			Borno, Yobe
10	Afo				Plateau
11	Afrike	Afrerikpe	60,000		Cross River
12	Ajawa	Aja, Ajanci			Bauchi	Extinct
13	Akaju-Ndem	Akajuk			Cross River	Active
14	Akweya-Yachi				Benue
15	Alago	Arago			Plateau
16	Amo
17	Anaguta
18	Annang		1,000,000		Akwa Ibom
19	Angas		368,000		Bauchi, Jigawa, Plateau
20	Ankwei				Plateau
21	Arabic	Chadian Arabic also known as Shuwa Arabic	1,000,000	100,000	Borno by Baggara Arabs
22	Anyima				Cross River
23	Arum				Nasarawa
24	Attakar	Ataka			Kaduna
25	Auyoka	Auyokawa, Auyakawa, Awiaka			Jigawa
26	Awori				Lagos, Ogun
27	Ayu				Kaduna
28	Babur				Adamawa, Bomo, Taraba, Yobe
29	Bachama				Adamawa
30	Bachere				Cross River
31	Bada				Plateau
32	Bade				Yobe
33	Bakulung				Taraba
34	Bali
35	Bambora	Bambarawa			Bauchi
36	Bambuko				Taraba
37	Banda	Bandawa
38	Banka	Bankalawa			Bauchi
39	Banso	Panso			Adamawa
40	Bara	Barawa			Bauchi
41	Barke
42	Baruba	Barba			Niger
43	Bashiri	Bashirawa			Plateau
44	Basa				Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Plateau
45	Batta				Adamawa
46	Baushi				Niger
47	Baya				Adamawa
48	Bekwarra				Cross River
49	Bele	Buli, Belewa			Bauchi
50	Betso	Bete			Taraba
51	Bette				Cross River
52	Bilei				Adamawa Rivers
53	Bille		40,000
54	Bina	Binawa			Kaduna
55	Bini				Edo
56	Birom				Plateau
57	Bobua				Taraba
58	Boki	Nki			Cross River
59	Bokkos				Plateau
60	Boko	Bussawa, Bargawa			Niger
61	Bole	Bolewa			Bauchi, Yobe
62	Botlere				Adamawa
63	Boma	Bomawa, Burmano			Bauchi
64	Bomboro
65	Buduma				Borno, Niger
66	Buji				Plateau
67	Buli				Bauchi
68	Bunu				Kogi
69	Bura	Bura-Pabir			Borno, Adamawa, Yobe
70	Burak				Bauchi
71	Burma	Burmawa			Plateau
72	Buru				Yobe
73	Buta	Butawa			Bauchi
74	Bwall				Plateau
75	Bwatiye				Adamawa
76	Bwazza
77	Challa				Plateau
78	Chama	Chamawa Fitilai			Bauchi
79	Chamba	Chamba Daka, Chamba Leko			Adamawa, Taraba	2
80	Chamo				Bauchi
81	Cibak	Chibbak, Chibok			Borno
82	Chinine				Borno
83	Chip				Plateau
84	Chokobo
85	Chukkol				Taraba
86	Cipu	Western Acipa	20,000		Kebbi, Niger
87	Daba				Adamawa
88	Dadiya				Bauchi
89	Daka				Adamawa
90	Dakarkari				Niger, Kebbi
91	Danda	Dandawa			Kebbi
92	Dangsa				Taraba
93	Daza	Dere, Derewa			Bauchi
94	Degema				Rivers
95	Deno	Denawa			Bauchi
96	Dghwede		30,000		Borno
97	Diba				Taraba
98	Doemak	Dumuk			Plateau
99	Duguri				Bauchi
100	Duka	Dukawa			Kebbi
101	Duma	Dumawa			Bauchi
102	Ebana	Ebani			Rivers
103	Ebirra	Igbirra	1,000,000		Edo, Kogi, Ondo
104	Ebu				Edo, Kogi, Delta (Anioma)
105	Efik				Cross River
106	Egbema				Rivers, Imo
107	Eggon				Plateau
108	Egun	Gùn			Lagos, Ogun
109	Ejagham	Jagham			Cross River
110	Ekajuk
111	Eket				Akwa Ibom
112	Ekoi				Cross River
113	Ekpeye	Ekpe ye			Rivers
114	Engenni	Ngene
115	Epie
116	English		178,000,000	40,000,000		4
117	Esan	Ishan			Edo
118	Etche				Rivers
119	Etolu	Etilo			Benue
120	Etsako	Afenmai			Edo
121	Etung				Cross River
122	Etuno				Edo
123	Falli				Adamawa
124	French		1,000,000	200,000	Bordering states of Nigeria
125	Fula	Fulani, Fulbe, Fulfulde	15,000,000	12,000,000	Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe	7
126	Fyam	Fyem			Plateau
127	Fyer	Fer
128	Ga’anda				Adamawa
129	Gade				Niger
130	Galambi				Bauchi
131	Gamergu	Mulgwa, Malgo, Malgwa			Borno
132	Ganawuri	Qanawuri			Plateau
133	Gavako				Borno
134	Gbedde				Kogi
135	Gbo	Agbo, Legbo			Cross River
136	Gengle				Taraba
137	Geji				Bauchi
138	Gera	Gere, Gerawa
139	Geruma	Gerumawa			Bauchi, Plateau
140	Gingwak				Bauchi
141	Gira				Adamawa
142	Gizigz
143	Goernai				Kaduna
144	Gong		100,000			Plateau
145	Gokana	Kana			Rivers
146	Gombi				Adamawa
147	Gornun	Gmun			Taraba
148	Gonia
149	Gubi	Gubawa			Bauchi
150	Gude				Adamawa
151	Gudu
152	Gure				Kaduna
153	Gurmana				Niger
154	Gururntum				Bauchi
155	Gusu				Plateau
156	Gwa	Gurawa			Adamawa
157	Gwamba
158	Gwandara				Kaduna, Niger, Plateau
159	Gwari	Gbari			Kaduna, Niger, FCT, Nasarawa,Kogi
160	Gwom				Taraba
161	Gwoza		40,000		Borno
162	Gyem				Bauchi
163	Hausa		80,000,000	57,000,000	Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kastina, Kebbi, Niger, Taraba, Sokoto, Zamfara	9
164	Humono	Kohumono			Cross River
165	Holma				Adamawa
166	Hona
167	Hyam	Ham, Jaba, Jabba			Kaduna
168	Ibeno				Akwa Ibom
169	Ibibio		12,000,000	9,000,000	Akwa Ibom, Cross River
170	Ichen				Adamawa
171	Idoma				Benue, Taraba
172	Igala				Kogi, Benue, Delta, Anambra
173	Igbo		42,000,000	41,000,000	Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Rivers	3
174	Igede	Egede			Benue
175	Ijaw	Izon	15,500,000	13,000,000	Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Ondo, Akwa-Ibom
176	Ijumu				Kogi
176	Ika				Delta, Edo
177	Ikorn				Cross River
178	Irigwe				Plateau
179	Isoko				Delta
180	Isekiri	Itsekiri	1,000,000
181	Iyala	Iyalla			Cross River
182	Izere	Izarek, Fizere, Fezere, Feserek, Afizarek, Afizare, Afusare, Jari, Jarawa, Jarawan Dutse, Hill Jarawa, Jos-Zarazon.	100,000		Plateau
183	Izondjo				Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo, Rivers
184	Jahuna	Jahunawa			Taraba
185	Jaku				Bauchi
186	Jara	Jaar, Jarawa, Jarawa-Dutse
187	Jere	Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa			Bauchi, Plateau
188	Jero				Taraba
189	Jibu				Adamawa
190	Jidda-Abu				Plateau
191	Jimbin	Jimbinawa			Bauchi
192	Jirai				Adamawa
193	Jju	Kaje, Kache			Kaduna
194	Jonjo	Jenjo			Taraba
195	Jukun				Bauchi, Benue, Taraba, Plateau
196	Kaba	Kabawa			Taraba
197	Kadara	Ajuah, Ajure, Adaa, Adara, Azuwa, Ajuwa, Azuwa,[citation needed] Eda			Kaduna,[31] Niger[32]
198	Kafanchan				Kaduna
199	Kagoro
200	Kajuru	Kajurawa
201	Kaka	Manenguba			Adamawa
202	Kamaku	Karnukawa			Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger
203	Kambari				Kebbi, Niger
204	Kamwe	(Kapsiki) in Cameroon	1.2 million native speakers		Adamawa, Borno and Republic of Cameroon	Active[33]
205	Kamo				Bauchi	Active
206	Kanakuru	Dera			Adamawa, Borno
207	Kanembu				Borno
208	Kanikon				Kaduna
209	Kantana				Plateau
210	Kanufi				Kaduna[34]
211	Kanuri				Borno, Kaduna, Adamawa, Kano, Niger, Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe
212	Karai-Karai (language)	Karaikarai, Karekare			Bauchi, Yobe
213	Karimjo				Taraba
214	Kariya				Bauchi
215	Katab	Kataf			Kaduna
216	Kenern	Koenoem			Plateau
217	Kenton				Taraba
218	Kiballo	Kiwollo			Kaduna
219	Kilba				Adamawa
220	Kirfi	Kirfawa			Bauchi
221	Koma				Taraba
222	Kona
223	Koro	Kwaro			Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa
224	Kubi	Kubawa			Bauchi
225	Kudachano	Kudawa			Bauchi
226	Kugama				Taraba
227	Kulere	Kaler			Plateau
228	Kunini				Taraba
229	Kurama				Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau
230	Kurdul				Adamawa
231	Kushi				Bauchi
232	Kuteb				Taraba
233	Kutin
234	Kwah	Baa	18,000		Adamawa
235	Kwalla				Plateau
236	Kwami	Kwom			Bauchi
237	Kwanchi				Taraba
238	Kwanka	Kwankwa			Bauchi, Plateau
239	Kwaro				Plateau
240	Kwato
241	Kyenga	Kengawa			Sokoto
242	Laaru	Larawa			Niger
243	Lakka				Adamawa
244	Lala
245	Lama				Taraba
246	Lamja
247	Lau
248	Ubbo				Adamawa
249	Limono				Bauchi, Plateau
250	Lopa	Lupa, Lopawa			Niger
251	Longuda	Lunguda			Adamawa, Bauchi
252	Mabo				Plateau
253	Mada				Kaduna, Plateau
254	Mama				Plateau
255	Mambilla				Adamawa
256	Manchok				Kaduna
257	Mandara	Wandala			Borno
258	Manga	Mangawa			Yobe
259	Margi				Adamawa, Borno
260	Matakarn				Adamawa
261	Mbembe				Cross River, Enugu
262	Mbol				Adamawa
263	Mbube				Cross River
264	Mbula				Adamawa
265	Mbum				Taraba
266	Memyang	Meryan			Plateau
267	Miango
268	Miligili	Migili
269	Miya	Miyawa			Bauchi
270	Mobber				Borno
271	Montol				Plateau
272	Moruwa	Moro’a, Morwa			Kaduna
273	Muchaila				Adamawa
274	Mumuye				Taraba
275	Mundang				Adamawa
276	Mupun		1,000,000		Plateau
278	Mushere
279	Mwahavul	Mwaghavul
280	Ndoro				Taraba
281	Ngamo				Bauchi, Yobe
282	Ngizim				Yobe
283	Ngweshe	Ndhang, Ngoshe-Ndhang			Adamawa, Borno
284	Ningi	Ningawa			Bauchi
285	Ninzam	Ninzo			Kaduna, Plateau
286	Njayi				Adamawa
287	Nkim				Cross River
288	Nkum
289	Nokere	Nakere			Plateau
290	Nsukka				Enugu State and some parts of Kogi state
291	Nunku				Kaduna, Plateau
292	Nupe				Niger, Kwara, Kogi, FCT
293	Nyandang				Taraba
294	Obolo	Andoni			Akwa Ibom, Rivers
295	Ogba	Ogba	1000+		Rivers
296	Ogbia				Bayelsa
297	Ofutop	Ofutop (okangha(2)	5,000	4,000	Ikom, Okuni, Cross River
298	Ogori				Kwara
299	Okobo	Okkobor			Akwa Ibom
300	Okpamheri				Edo
301	Okpe	Okpe	1,000,000		Delta
302	Olulumo				Cross River
302	Oro	Oron	1,000,000		Akwa Ibom
303	Owan				Edo
304	Owe				Kwara
305	Oworo
306	Pa’a	Pa’awa, Afawa			Bauchi
307	Pai				Plateau
308	Panyam				Taraba
309	Pero				Bauchi
310	Pire				Adamawa
311	Pkanzom				Taraba
312	Poll
313	Polchi Habe				Bauchi
314	Pongo	Pongu			Niger
315	Potopo				Taraba
315	Pyapun	Piapung			Plateau
317	Qua				Cross River
318	Rebina	Rebinawa			Bauchi
319	Reshe				Kebbi, Niger
320	Rindire	Rendre			Plateau
321	Rishuwa				Kaduna
322	Ron				Plateau
323	Rubu				Niger
324	Rukuba				Plateau
325	Rumada				Kaduna
326	Rumaya
327	Sakbe				Taraba
328	Sanga				Bauchi
329	Sate				Taraba
330	Saya	Sayawa, Za’ar			Bauchi, Plateau, Kaduna, Abuja, Niger, Kogi
331	Segidi	Sigidawa			Bauchi
332	Shanga	Shangawa			Sokoto
333	Shangawa	Shangau			Plateau
334	Shan-Shan				Plateau
335	Shira	Shirawa			Kano
336	Shomo				Taraba
337	Shuwa				Adamawa, Borno
338	Sikdi				Plateau
339	Siri	Sirawa			Bauchi
340	Srubu	Surubu			Kaduna
341	Sukur				Adamawa
342	Sura				Plateau
343	Tangale				Bauchi
344	Tarok				Plateau, Taraba
345	Teme				Adamawa
346	Tera	Terawa			Bauchi, Bomo
347	Teshena	Teshenawa			Kano
348	Tigon				Adamawa
349	Tikar				Taraba
350	Tiv		5,000,000		Benue, Plateau,adamawa, Taraba, Nasarawa	2
351	Tula				Bauchi
352	Tur				Adamawa
353	Ufia				Benue
354	Ukelle	Kele, Kukelle			Cross River
355	Ukwani	Kwale,Aboh			Delta
356	Uncinda				Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto
357	Uneme	Ineme			Edo
358	Ura	Ula			Niger
359	Urhobo		1,000,000		Delta
360	Utonkong				Benue
361	Uvwie		100,000		Delta
362	Uyanga				Cross River
363	Vemgo				Adamawa
364	Verre
365	Vommi				Taraba
366	Wagga				Adamawa
367	Waja				Bauchi
368	Waka				Taraba
369	Warja				Jigawa
370	Warji				Bauchi
371	Wula				Adamawa
372	Wurbo
373	Wurkun				Taraba
374	Yache				Cross River
375	Yagba				Kwara
376	Yakurr	Yako			Cross River
377	Yalla				Benue
378	Yandang				Taraba
379	Yergan	Yergum			Plateau
380	Yoruba		54,000,000	48,000,000	Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi, Edo	2
381	Yott				Taraba
382	Yumu				Niger
383	Yungur				Adamawa
384	Yuom		250,000		Plateau
385	Zabara				Niger
386	Zaranda				Bauchi
387	Zarma	Dyerma, Dyarma, Dyabarma, Zabarma, Adzerma, Djerma, Zarbarma, Zerma, Zarmawa			Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger State, Yobe, Kaduna, Lagos
388	Zayam	Zeam			Bauchi
389	Zul	Zulawa

See also

• Languages portal
• Nigeria portal

• Niger-Congo languages
• Ethnic groups of Nigeria

Notes

1. "Language data for Nigeria". Translators without Borders. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
2. "Nigeria". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2017-07-14.
3. Blench, Roger (2014). An Atlas Of Nigerian Languages. Oxford: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
4. "Language data for Nigeria". Translators without Borders. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
5. "Nigeria: languages by number of speakers 2021". Statista. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
6. "Africa: Nigeria". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
7. "Nigeria". worldpopulationreview.com. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
8. Adeleke, Dr Wale. "Languages of Nigeria - Regions". NaijaSky. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
9. "Nigeria: languages by number of speakers 2021". Statista. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
10. Obiukwu, Onyedimmakachukwu. "Nigeria has a massive, largely overlooked, language crisis". Ventures Africa. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
11. Osoba, Joseph Babasola; Alebiosu, Tajudeen Afolabi (2016). "Language Preference as a Precursor to Displacement and Extinction in Nigeria: The Roles of English Language and Nigerian Pidgin". Journal of Universal Language. 17 (2): 111–143. doi:10.22425/jul.2016.17.2.111. ISSN 2508-5344.
12. Ali, Salaudeen. "Effect of choosing common lingua franca in Nigeria by Salaudeen Ali". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
13. "Language data for Nigeria". Translators without Borders. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
14. "BBC starts Pidgin digital service for West Africa audiences". BBC News. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
15. Osoba, Joseph Babasola (2014-03-26). "The Use of Nigerian Pidgin in Media Adverts". International Journal of English Linguistics. 4 (2). doi:10.5539/ijel.v4n2p26. ISSN 1923-8703.
16. Osoba, Joseph Babasola (2014-03-31). "The Use of Nigerian Pidgin in Political Jingles". Journal of Universal Language. 15 (1): 105–127. doi:10.22425/jul.2014.15.1.105. ISSN 1598-6381.
17. Douglas, B. 2012. The Status of Nigerian Pidgin and Other Indigenous Languages in Bayelsa State Tertiary Institutions. Unpublished M.A. Thesis, Obafemi Awolowo University. In: Osoba, Joseph Babasola; Alebiosu, Tajudeen Afolabi (2016). "Language Preference as a Precursor to Displacement and Extinction in Nigeria: The Roles of English Language and Nigerian Pidgin". Journal of Universal Language. 17 (2): 111–143. doi:10.22425/jul.2016.17.2.111. ISSN 2508-5344.
18. "Afro-Asiatic languages | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
19. "History – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria". Retrieved 2022-11-23.
20. Aderibigbe, Victor. "A CRITIQUE OF THE SOKOTO JIHAD IN HAUSALAND IN THE OPENING DECADE OF THE 19TH CENTURY". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
21. Chafe, Kabiru Sulaiman (1994). "Challenges to the Hegemony of the Sokoto Caliphate: A Preliminary Examination". Paideuma. 40: 99–109. ISSN 0078-7809. JSTOR 40341678.
22. Ochonu, Moses (2015). "Caliphate Expansion and Sociopolitical Change in Nineteenth-Century Lower Benue Hinterlands". Journal of West African History. 1 (1): 133–178. doi:10.14321/jwestafrihist.1.1.0133. ISSN 2327-1868. JSTOR 10.14321/jwestafrihist.1.1.0133. S2CID 128410954.
23. Kwache, I.Y (2016) Kamwe People of Northern Nigeria: Origin, History and Culture. Prudent Universal Press and Publishing Company Ltd, Kaduna Nigeria.
24. "Niger-Congo languages « Sorosoro". Retrieved 2020-05-30.
25. Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
26. "FG declares French compulsory for all students | The Nation Newspaper". The Nation Newspaper. 2016-01-31. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
27. "Nigeria". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
28. Blench, Roger (2014). An Atlas Of Nigerian Languages. Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
29. Crozier, David Henry; Blench, Roger (1992). An Index of Nigerian languages. Dallas: Summer Inst of Linguistics. ISBN 9780883126110.
30. "Ethnologue 15 report for Nigeria". archive.ethnologue.com. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
31. "A Summary of a Sociolinguistic Survey of the Adara of Kaduna and Niger States, Nigeria". SIL International. November 24, 2014.
32. Mbeke-Ekanem, Tom (May 19, 2000). Beyond the Execution: Understanding the Ethnic and Military Politics in Nigeria. Writer's Showcase. ISBN 9780595092802 – via Google Books.
33. Kwache,IY (2016)Kamwe People of Northern Nigeria: Origin, History and Culture
34. Olson, James Stuart; Meur, Charles (May 19, 1996). The Peoples of Africa: An Ethnohistorical Dictionary. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780313279188 – via Google Books.

Bibliographies

• Crozier, David & Blench, Roger (1992) An Index of Nigerian Languages (2nd edition). Dallas: SIL.mbembe language in cross river
• Blench, Roger (1998) 'The Status of the Languages of Central Nigeria', in Brenzinger, M. (ed.) Endangered languages in Africa. Köln: Köppe Verlag, 187–206. online version
• Blench, Roger (2002) Research on Minority Languages in Nigeria in 2001. Ogmios.
• Blench, Roger (n.d.) Atlas of Nigerian Languages, ed. III (revised and amended edition of Crozier & Blench 1992)
• Kwache, Iliya Yame (2016) Kamwe People of Northern Nigeria :Origin, History and Culture
• Chigudu, Theophilus Tanko (2017); Indigenous peoples of North clCentral Nigeria Area: an endangered race.
• Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
• Emenanjo, E. N. (2019). Four Decades in the Study of Nigerian Languages and Linguistics: A Festschrift for KayWilliamson.
• Lamle, Elias Nankap, Coprreality and Dwelling spaces in Tarokland. NBTT Press. Jos Nigeria in "Ngappak" journal of the Tarok Nation 2005

External links

• African linguistic maps: Nigeria & Cameroun on Muturzikin.com
• Ethnologue listing of Nigerian languages