Languages of Nigeria

There are over 525 native languages spoken in Nigeria.[1][2] The official language of Nigeria is English, the former language of colonial British Nigeria. As reported in 2003, Nigerian English and Nigerian Pidgin were spoken as a second language by 60 million people in Nigeria.[3] Communication in the English language is much more popular in the country's urban communities than it is in the rural areas, due to globalization.[4]

Languages of Nigeria
Regional	Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Fulfulde, Ijaw, Edo, Ibibio, Kanuri, Tiv, Nupe and others
Signed	Nigerian Sign Language Hausa Sign Language Bura Sign Language

A map of the major languages of Nigeria, Cameroon and Benin

The major native languages, in terms of population, are Hausa (over 63 million when including L2 speakers), Yoruba (over 42 million including L2 speakers), Igbo (over 35 million, including L2 speakers) Fulfulde (15 million), Ibibio cluster (10 million), Kanuri (8 million), Tiv (4 million), and approx. 2 to 3 million each of Edo, Igala, Nupe, and Izon. [5]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.[6]

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[7]. 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 and include Ịjọ (Ijaw), Kalabari, and the intriguing remnant language Defaka. The Efik language is spoken across the coastal southeastern part of Nigeria and includes the dialects Ibibio, 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, Ibibio, 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 Cross River. Apart from these, there are numerous Bantoid languages, which are the languages immediately ancestral to Bantu. These include Mambiloid, Ekoid, Bendi, Beboid, Grassfields and Tivoid languages.

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 Efik, 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 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).[8]

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	Southwestern Nigeria
Edoid	Rivers, Edo, Ondo, Delta States
Akoko	Akoko North LGA, Ondo State
Igboid	Anambra, Rivers, Delta States (excluding Igbo proper)
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	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
Jen	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.[8]

Afroasiatic languages

The Afroasiatic languages of Nigeria divide into Chadic, Semitic and Berber. Of these, Chadic languages predominate, with 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.

A map showing Afroasiatic speaking peoples in Nigeria

The Hausa language is the most well-known Chadic language in Nigeria mampoza; 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 Nigerian Muslims, and the language 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 have become closely integrated with the Fulani following the establishment of the Sokoto Caliphate by the Fulani Uthman dan Fodio in the 19th century. Hausa is the official language of a number 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, while Zaria is a prominent Southern tongue version; Barikanchi is a pidgin formerly used in the military.

Hausa is a highly 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 Cameroun are the Central Chadic languages, such as Bura, Kamwe and Marghi. 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, witness the recent description of Dyarim.

Hausa, as well as other Afroasiatic languages like Bade (another West Chadic language spoken in Yobe State), have historically been written in a modified Arabic script known as ajami, however, the modern official orthography is now a romanization known as boko first introduced by the British regime in the 1930s.

Branches and locations

Below is a list of major Chadic branches and their primary locations based on Blench (2019).[8] Like the Adamawa and Bantu languages, Chadic branches are also referred to by lettered codes.

Distributions of West Chadic branches

Branch	Code	Primary locations
Hausa–Gwandara	A1	Northern Nigeria
Bole–Tangale	A2	Darazo LGA, Bauchi State; Yobe, Taraba, Gombe, Borno states
Angas	A3	Shendam and Mangu LGAs, Plateau State
Ron	A4	Mangu LGA, Plateau State
Bade	B1	Bade LGA, Borno State
Warji (North Bauchi)	B2	Darazo and Ningi LGAs, Bauchi State
Barawa (South Bauchi)	B3	Bauchi State (Toro, Dass, Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi LGAs)

Distributions of Biu–Mandara branches in Nigeria

Branch	Code	Primary locations
Tera	A1	Gombi LGA, Adamawa State and Biu LGA, Borno State
Bata	A8	Mubi LGA, Adamawa State
Kamwe (Higi)	A3	Michika LGA, Mubi North LGA, Hong LGA, Madagali LGA Adamawa State; Askira/Uba LGA, Borno State
Mandara	A4	Gwoza LGA, Borno State and Michika LGA, Adamawa State

Other than Chadic languages, Arabic varieties, particularly Shuwa Arabic, are also spoken throughout northern Nigeria.

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 near the border with the neighbouring country of Niger
• Lau Laka, a recently discovered Central Sudanic language of Taraba State

List of languages

This is a non-exhaustive list of languages in Nigeria.[9][10][11][12]

Language	Alternate names	Number of speakers	States spoken in	Current status
Abanyom	Abanyum, Befun, Bofon, Mbofon	13,000	Cross River	Active
Abon	Abong, Abõ, Ba'ban	1,000	Taraba	Active
Abua	Odual, Abuan	25,000	Rivers	Active
Abureni	Mini	4,000	Bayelsa	Active
Achipa	Achipawa	5,000	Kebbi	Active
Adim			Cross River	Active
Aduge		30,000	Anambra	Active
Adun			Cross River	Active
Afade	Affade, Afadeh, Afada, Kotoko, Moga		Borno, Yobe	Active
Afo			Plateau	Active
Afrikaans			Lagos	Active
Afrike	Afrerikpe	60,000	Cross River	Active
Ajawa	Aja, Ajanci		Bauchi	Extinct
Akaju-Ndem	Akajuk		Cross River	Active
Akweya-Yachi			Benue	Active
Alago	Arago		Plateau	Active
Amo			Plateau	Active
Anaguta			Plateau	Active
Anang			Akwa Ibom	Active
Angas			Bauchi, Jigawa, Plateau	Active
Ankwei			Plateau	Active
Anyima			Cross River	Active
Arabic	Chadian Arabic also known as Shuwa Arabic		Borno by Baggara Arabs	Active
Attakar	Ataka		Kaduna	Active
Auyoka	Auyokawa, Auyakawa, Awiaka		Jigawa	Active
Awori			Lagos, Ogun	Active
Ayu			Kaduna	Active
Babur			Adamawa, Bomo, Taraba, Yobe	Active
Bachama			Adamawa	Active
Bachere			Cross River	Active
Bada			Plateau	Active
Bade			Yobe	Active
Bahumono			Cross River	Active
Bakulung			Taraba	Active
Bali			Taraba	Active
Bambora	Bambarawa		Bauchi	Active
Bambuko			Taraba	Active
Banda	Bandawa		Taraba	Active
Banka	Bankalawa		Bauchi	Active
Banso	Panso		Adamawa	Active
Bara	Barawa		Bauchi	Active
Barke			Bauchi	Active
Baruba	Barba		Niger	Active
Bashiri	Bashirawa		Plateau	Active
Basa			Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Plateau	Active
Batta			Adamawa	Active
Baushi			Niger	Active
Baya			Adamawa	Active
Bekwarra			Cross River	Active
Bele	Buli, Belewa		Bauchi	Active
Betso	Bete		Taraba	Active
Bette			Cross River	Active
Bilei			Adamawa	Active
Bille			Adamawa	Active
Bina	Binawa		Kaduna	Active
Bini			Edo	Active
Birom			Plateau	Active
Bobua			Taraba	Active
Boki	Nki		Cross River	Active
Bokkos			Plateau	Active
Boko	Bussawa, Bargawa		Niger	Active
Bole	Bolewa		Bauchi, Yobe	Active
Botlere			Adamawa	Active
Boma	Bomawa, Burmano		Bauchi	Active
Bomboro			Bauchi	Active
Buduma			Borno, Niger	Active
Buji			Plateau	Active
Buli			Bauchi	Active
Bunu			Kogi	Active
Bura	Bura, Pabir		Borno, Adamawa, Yobe	Active
Burak			Bauchi	Active
Burma	Burmawa		Plateau	Active
Buru			Yobe	Active
Buta	Butawa		Bauchi	Active
Bwall			Plateau	Active
Bwatiye			Adamawa	Active
Bwazza			Adamawa	Active
Challa			Plateau	Active
Chama	Chamawa Fitilai		Bauchi	Active
Chamba			Taraba	Active
Chamo			Bauchi	Active
Cibak	Chibbak, Chibok		Yobe	Active
Chinine			Borno	Active
Chip			Plateau	Active
Chokobo			Plateau	Active
Chukkol			Taraba	Active
Cipu	Western Acipa	20,000	Kebbi, Niger	Active
Daba			Adamawa	Active
Dadiya			Bauchi	Active
Daka			Adamawa	Active
Dakarkari			Niger, Kebbi	Active
Danda	Dandawa		Kebbi	Active
Dangsa			Taraba	Active
Daza	Dere, Derewa		Bauchi	Active
Degema			Rivers	Active
Deno	Denawa		Bauchi	Active
Dghwede		30,000	Borno	Active
Diba			Taraba	Active
Doemak	Dumuk		Plateau	Active
Duguri			Bauchi	Active
Duka	Dukawa		Kebbi	Active
Duma	Dumawa		Bauchi	Active
Ebana	Ebani		Rivers	Active
Ebirra	Igbirra	1,000,000	Edo, Kogi, Ondo	Active
Ebu			Edo, Kogi	Active
Efik			Cross River	Active
Egbema			Rivers	Active
Eggon			Plateau	Active
Egun	Gu		Lagos, Ogun	Active
Ejagham	Jagham		Cross River	Active
Ekajuk			Cross River	Active
Eket			Akwa Ibom	Active
Ekoi			Cross River	Active
Ekpeye	Ekpe ye		Rivers	Active
Engenni	Ngene		Rivers	Active
Epie			Rivers	Active
Esan	Ishan		Edo	Active
Etche			Rivers	Active
Etolu	Etilo		Benue	Active
Etsako	Afenmai		Edo	Active
Etung			Cross River	Active
Etuno			Edo	Active
Falli			Adamawa	Active
Fula	Fulani, Fulbe, Fulfulde	15,000,000	Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe	Active
French			Bordering states of Nigeria	Active
Fyam	Fyem		Plateau	Active
Fyer	Fer		Plateau	Active
Ga’anda			Adamawa	Active
Gade			Niger	Active
Galambi			Bauchi	Active
Gamergu	Mulgwa, Malgo, Malgwa		Borno	Active
Ganawuri	Qanawuri		Plateau	Active
Gavako			Borno	Active
Gbedde			Kogi	Active
Gbo	Agbo, Legbo		Cross River	Active
Gengle			Taraba	Active
Geji			Bauchi	Active
Gera	Gere, Gerawa		Bauchi	Active
Geruma	Gerumawa		Bauchi, Plateau	Active
Gingwak			Bauchi	Active
Gira			Adamawa	Active
Gizigz			Adamawa	Active
Goernai			Plateau	Active
Gokana	Kana		Rivers	Active
Gombi			Adamawa	Active
Gornun	Gmun		Taraba	Active
Gonia			Taraba	Active
Gubi	Gubawa		Bauchi	Active
Gude			Adamawa	Active
Gudu			Adamawa	Active
Gure			Kaduna	Active
Gurmana			Niger	Active
Gururntum			Bauchi	Active
Gusu			Plateau	Active
Gwa	Gurawa		Adamawa	Active
Gwamba			Adamawa	Active
Gwandara			Kaduna, Niger, Plateau	Active
Gwari	Gbari		Kaduna, Niger, FCT, Nasarawa	Active
Gwom			Taraba	Active
Gwoza		40,000	Borno	Active
Gyem			Bauchi	Active
Hausa		34,000,000	Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kastina, Kebbi, Niger, Taraba, Sokoto, Zamfara	Active
Holma			Adamawa	Active
Hona			Adamawa	Active
Hyam	Ham, Jaba, Jabba		Kaduna	Active
Ibeno			Akwa Ibom	Active
Ibibio			Akwa Ibom	Active
Ichen			Adamawa	Active
Idoma			Benue, Taraba	Active
Igala			Kogi	Active
Igbo		40,000,000	Abia, Anambra, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Rivers	Active
Igede	Egede		Benue	Active
Ijaw			Bayelsa	Active
Ijumu			Kogi	Active
Ika			Delta	Active
Ikorn			Cross River	Active
Irigwe			Plateau	Active
Isoko			Delta	Active
Isekiri	Itsekiri	1,000,000	Delta	Active
Iyala	Iyalla		Cross River	Active
Izere	Izarek, Fizere, Fezere, Feserek, Afizarek, Afizare, Afusare, Jari, Jarawa, Jarawan Dutse, Hill Jarawa, Jos-Zarazon.	100,000	Plateau	Active
Izondjo			Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo, Rivers	Active
Jahuna	Jahunawa		Taraba	Active
Jaku			Bauchi	Active
Jara	Jaar, Jarawa, Jarawa-Dutse		Bauchi	Active
Jere	Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa		Bauchi, Plateau	Active
Jero			Taraba	Active
Jibu			Adamawa	Active
Jidda-Abu			Plateau	Active
Jimbin	Jimbinawa		Bauchi	Active
Jirai			Adamawa	Active
Jju	Kaje, Kache		Kaduna	Active
Jonjo	Jenjo		Taraba	Active
Jukun			Bauchi, Benue, Taraba, Plateau	Active
Kaba	Kabawa		Taraba	Active
Kadara	Ajuah, Ajure, Adaa, Adara, Azuwa, Ajuwa, Azuwa,[13] Eda		Kaduna,[14] Niger	Active
Kafanchan			Kaduna	Active
Kagoro			Kaduna	Active
Kajuru	Kajurawa		Kaduna	Active
Kaka	Manenguba		Adamawa	Active
Kamaku	Karnukawa		Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger	Active
Kambari			Kebbi, Niger	Active
Kamwe			Adamawa, Borno and Republic of Cameroon	Active[15]
Kamo			Bauchi	Active
Kanakuru	Dera		Adamawa, Borno	Active
Kanembu			Borno	Active
Kanikon			Kaduna	Active
Kantana			Plateau	Active
Kanufi			Kaduna[16]	Active
Kanuri			Borno, Kaduna, Adamawa, Kano, Niger, Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe	Active
Karekare	Karaikarai		Bauchi, Yobe	Active
Karimjo			Taraba	Active
Kariya			Bauchi	Active
Katab	Kataf		Kaduna	Active
Kenern	Koenoem		Plateau	Active
Kenton			Taraba	Active
Kiballo	Kiwollo		Kaduna	Active
Kilba			Adamawa	Active
Kirfi	Kirfawa		Bauchi	Active
Koma			Taraba	Active
Kona			Taraba	Active
Koro	Kwaro		Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa	Active
Kubi	Kubawa		Bauchi	Active
Kudachano	Kudawa		Bauchi	Active
Kugama			Taraba	Active
Kulere	Kaler		Plateau	Active
Kunini			Taraba	Active
Kurama			Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau	Active
Kurdul			Adamawa	Active
Kushi			Bauchi	Active
Kuteb			Taraba	Active
Kutin			Taraba	Active
Kwah	Baa	18,000	Adamawa	Active
Kwalla			Plateau	Active
Kwami	Kwom		Bauchi	Active
Kwanchi			Taraba	Active
Kwanka	Kwankwa		Bauchi, Plateau	Active
Kwaro			Plateau	Active
Kwato			Plateau	Active
Kyenga	Kengawa		Sokoto	Active
Laaru	Larawa		Niger	Active
Lakka			Adamawa	Active
Lala			Adamawa	Active
Lama			Taraba	Active
Lamja			Taraba	Active
Lau			Taraba	Active
Ubbo			Adamawa	Active
Limono			Bauchi, Plateau	Active
Lopa	Lupa, Lopawa		Niger	Active
Longuda	Lunguda		Adamawa, Bauchi	Active
Mabo			Plateau	Active
Mada			Kaduna, Plateau	Active
Mama			Plateau	Active
Mambilla			Adamawa	Active
Manchok			Kaduna	Active
Mandara	Wandala		Borno	Active
Manga	Mangawa		Yobe	Active
Margi			Adamawa, Borno, Yobe	Active
Matakarn			Adamawa	Active
Mbembe			Cross River, Enugu	Active
Mbol			Adamawa	Active
Mbube			Cross River	Active
Mbula			Adamawa	Active
Mbum			Taraba	Active
Memyang	Meryan		Plateau	Active
Miango			Plateau	Active
Miligili	Migili		Plateau	Active
Miya	Miyawa		Bauchi	Active
Mobber			Borno	Active
Montol			Plateau	Active
Moruwa	Moro’a, Morwa		Kaduna	Active
Muchaila			Adamawa	Active
Mumuye			Taraba	Active
Mundang			Adamawa	Active
Mupun		1,000,000	Plateau	Active
Mushere			Plateau	Active
Mwahavul	Mwaghavul		Plateau	Active
Ndoro			Taraba	Active
Ngamo			Bauchi, Yobe	Active
Ngizim			Yobe	Active
Ngweshe	Ndhang, Ngoshe-Ndhang		Adamawa, Borno	Active
Ningi	Ningawa		Bauchi	Active
Ninzam	Ninzo		Kaduna, Plateau	Active
Njayi			Adamawa	Active
Nkim			Cross River	Active
Nkum			Cross River	Active
Nokere	Nakere		Plateau	Active
Nsukka			Enugu State and some parts of Kogi state	Active
Nunku			Kaduna, Plateau	Active
Nupe			Niger, Kwara, Kogi, FCT	Active
Nyandang			Taraba	Active
Obolo	Andoni		Akwa Ibom, Rivers	Active
Ogbia			Bayelsa	Active
Ododop			Cross River	Active
Ogori			Kwara	Active
Okobo	Okkobor		Akwa Ibom	Active
Okpamheri			Edo	Active
Olulumo			Cross River	Active
Oron			Akwa Ibom	Active
Owan			Edo	Active
Owe			Kwara	Active
Oworo			Kwara	Active
Pa’a	Pa’awa, Afawa		Bauchi	Active
Pai			Plateau	Active
Panyam			Taraba	Active
Pero			Bauchi	Active
Pire			Adamawa	Active
Pkanzom			Taraba	Active
Poll			Taraba	Active
Polchi Habe			Bauchi	Active
Pongo	Pongu		Niger	Active
Potopo			Taraba	Active
Pyapun	Piapung		Plateau	Active
Qua			Cross River	Active
Rebina	Rebinawa		Bauchi	Active
Reshe			Kebbi, Niger	Active
Rindire	Rendre		Plateau	Active
Rishuwa			Kaduna	Active
Ron			Plateau	Active
Rubu			Niger	Active
Rukuba			Plateau	Active
Rumada			Kaduna	Active
Rumaya			Kaduna	Active
Sakbe			Taraba	Active
Sanga			Bauchi	Active
Sate			Taraba	Active
Saya	Sayawa, Za’ar		Bauchi, Plateau, Kaduna, Abuja, Niger, Kogi	Active
Segidi	Sigidawa		Bauchi	Active
Shanga	Shangawa		Sokoto	Active
Shangawa	Shangau		Plateau	Active
Shan-Shan			Plateau	Active
Shira	Shirawa		Kano	Active
Shomo			Taraba	Active
Shuwa			Adamawa, Borno	Active
Sikdi			Plateau	Active
Siri	Sirawa		Bauchi	Active
Srubu	Surubu		Kaduna	Active
Sukur			Adamawa	Active
Sura			Plateau	Active
Tangale			Bauchi	Active
Tarok			Plateau, Taraba	Active
Teme			Adamawa	Active
Tera	Terawa		Bauchi, Bomo	Active
Teshena	Teshenawa		Kano	Active
Tigon			Adamawa	Active
Tikar			Taraba	Active
Tiv		2,000,000	Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Nasarawa	Active
Tula			Bauchi	Active
Tur			Adamawa	Active
Ufia			Benue	Active
Ukelle	Kele, Kukelle		Cross River	Active
Ukwani	Kwale		Delta	Active
Uncinda			Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto	Active
Uneme	Ineme		Edo	Active
Ura	Ula		Niger	Active
Urhobo		1,000,000	Delta	Active
Utonkong			Benue	Active
Uyanga			Cross River	Active
Vemgo			Adamawa	Active
Verre			Adamawa	Active
Vommi			Taraba	Active
Wagga			Adamawa	Active
Waja			Bauchi	Active
Waka			Taraba	Active
Warja			Jigawa	Active
Warji			Bauchi	Active
Wula			Adamawa	Active
Wurbo			Adamawa	Active
Wurkun			Taraba	Active
Yache			Cross River	Active
Yagba			Kwara	Active
Yakurr	Yako		Cross River	Active
Yalla			Benue	Active
Yandang			Taraba	Active
Yergan	Yergum		Plateau	Active
Yoruba		30,000,000	Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi	Active
Yott			Taraba	Active
Yumu			Niger	Active
Yungur			Adamawa	Active
Yuom		250,000	Plateau	Active
Zabara			Niger	Active
Zaranda			Bauchi	Active
Zarma	Dyerma, Dyarma, Dyabarma, Zabarma, Adzerma, Djerma, Zarbarma, Zerma, Zarmawa		Kebbi	Active
Zayam	Zeam		Bauchi	Active
Zul	Zulawa		Bauchi	Active

See also

• Niger-Congo languages
• Ethnic groups of Nigeria

Notes

1. "Nigeria". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2017-07-14.
2. Blench, Roger (2014). An Atlas Of Nigerian Languages. Oxford: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
3. "Nigeria". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2018-05-10.
4. Vigouroux, Cécile B.; Mufwene, Salikoko S. (2008-11-05). Globalization and Language Vitality: Perspectives from Africa. A&C Black. ISBN 978-1-4411-7073-6.
5. worldpopulationreview.com https://worldpopulationreview.com/languages/nigeria/. Retrieved 2020-05-30. Missing or empty |title= (help)
6. Adeleke, Dr Wale. "Languages of Nigeria - Regions". NaijaSky. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
7. "Niger-Congo languages « Sorosoro". Retrieved 2020-05-30.
8. Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
9. "Nigeria". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
10. Blench, Roger (2014). An Atlas Of Nigerian Languages. Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
11. Crozier, David Henry; Blench, Roger (1992). An Index of Nigerian languages. Dallas: Summer Inst of Linguistics. ISBN 9780883126110.
12. "Ethnologue 15 report for Nigeria". archive.ethnologue.com. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
15. Kwache,IY (2016)Kamwe People of Northern Nigeria: Origin, History and Culture

References

• 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