Jigawa State

Jigawa State is in the North-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria, with its capital at Dutse. It was created on 27 August 1991 from Kano State (northern and eastern parts), under the Ibrahim Babangida administration. It has an estimated population of 7,499,100 (2022) across 23,154 km², administered through 27 local government areas.

Jigawa's economy is dominated by agriculture and livestock. Most of the population is engaged in farming, much of it smallholder and rain-fed, though irrigated farming along the Hadejia river system and its fadama (floodplain) lands supports dry-season production of rice, wheat, vegetables and other crops. The Hadejia-Nguru wetlands also support fishing and pastoralism. Trade in agricultural produce and livestock, small-scale manufacturing, leather work and blacksmithing are important informal-sector activities.

The state government has prioritised agricultural mechanisation, irrigation rehabilitation and export-oriented value chains such as sesame, rice and hibiscus. The Maigatari Border Free Zone, on the frontier with the Niger Republic, was set up to attract cross-border trade and processing investment. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Jigawa recorded internally generated revenue of about N59.5 billion in 2024.