Nigeria, a diverse nation with over 250 ethnic groups and 500 languages, is home to numerous wealthy individuals across its 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
As Africa’s largest economy, with a nominal GDP of $362.81 bn according to the World Bank as of 2023.
Nigeria has produced some of the richest people across various sectors, including oil, gas, real estate, technology, and agriculture.
Read also: Meet 24 Nigerian billionaires in oil and gas industry
Here are the richest people from these states in Nigeria, according to a list compiled by Richlist Nigeria.
Sokoto State
Ahmed Dasuki is the chairman of Fifth Chaka Polo and Country Club and has served as a board member of Stanbic IBTC Holding Company. He is also the founder of Quaditect Consultants and the chair of Drill Masters Africa. He owns a stake in MTN Nigeria valued at approximately $53.75 million in 2022.
Aliyu Jelani is a prominent figure in the automotive industry. He is currently the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) in Nigeria. He has had a distinguished career at General Motors, where he worked for over 15 years. During his time there, he contributed to the design of several notable vehicles, including the Buick Rendezvous, Oldsmobile Bravada, and Opel Astra. He was also the lead exterior designer for the Pontiac G6 and the Chevrolet Volt.
Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar is the 20th Sultan of Sokoto and a highly influential figure in Nigeria. As the spiritual leader of Nigeria’s Muslims, he plays a crucial role in religious and cultural matters, including the declaration of Muslim festivals. His influence extends to approximately 98.7 million Muslims in Nigeria, which is about half of the country’s population.
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Taraba State
Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, a retired Nigerian Army Lieutenant General, served as the Chief of Army Staff from July 1975 to October 1979. He is the founder of the NAL-Comet Group, one of the most successful indigenous shipping agencies and terminal operators in Nigeria. In 2005, NAL-Comet became the largest independent port operator in Africa after acquiring a port in Lagos. Danjuma also founded South Atlantic Petroleum Limited (SAPETRO), an oil exploration and production company that acquired Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 246 in 1998 and Oil Mining License (OML) 130 in 2005, making it one of Nigeria’s largest oil producers. As a philanthropist, he pledged and awarded $41.5 million in grants since its inception million. His net worth is estimated at $750m by Forbes in 2015.
Jigawa State
Nasiru Haladu Danu is indeed a prominent figure in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. He is the Chairman and CEO of Casiva Limited, which was awarded contracts by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for the exchange of crude oil for imported petroleum products from 2019 to 20221. Additionally, his company was awarded a contract in 2016 for pipeline security and maintenance services along the Kaduna-Kano and Zaria-Gusau segments
Isah Mohammed Gerawa, the Founder and Chairman of Gerawa Group of Companies, has made significant investments in Nigeria’s industrial sector. In 2018, he invested $50 million to build the Gerawa Oil Mill Factory, the largest single oil mill in West Africa with a production capacity of 1,200 tons per day. In 2021, he invested $30 million to construct a 420 metric tons per day Mega Rice Mill in Kano. By February 2022, he was laying the foundation for an additional 560 metric tons per day Mega Rice Mill worth $50 million.
Read also: Meet 4 Nigerian billionaires worth more than two African countries’ GDP – Forbes
Borno State
Mohammed Indimi was listed on Forbes with a net worth of $500 million in 2015. He is the founder and chairman of Oriental Energy Resources, a Nigerian oil exploration and production company with assets such as Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 224, Oil Mining License (OML) 67, and Oil Mining License (OML) 115. Through the Muhammad Indimi Foundation (MIF), built a 100-unit N600 million housing estate for IDPs in Borno State and another 100-unit N700 million residential estate in Akwa Ibom. He also awarded over 470 scholarships in Akwa Ibom and made a multi-million-dollar donation to an International Business Centre at Lynn University.
Zanna Mai Deribe is the eldest son of the late Alhaji Mai Deribe, who was considered one of the richest Nigerians during his time. His father spent roughly $100 million to build a house made from a mixture of liquid gold and owned a customized Gulfstream G550 private jet. The building, Deribe Palace, caught the world’s attention and hosted some powerful world leaders like Prince Charles and his late wife Princess Diana, and most notably former U.S. President George Bush12. He became the managing director of his father’s group of companies at the tender age of 20, where he managed his father’s companies and vast investments.
Ibrahim Bunu is an architect who served as the FCT minister from 1999 to 2001. he designed the NNPC tower in Abuja. He played a key role in projects like the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting and numerous others nationwide. His company also served as the Consultant Architect for the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria. Additionally, he was a member of the board of directors and the Chairman of Hallmark Bank PLC.
Read also: Top 10 richest countries in Africa in 2024 – IMF
Ebonyi State
David Nweze Umahi served as the Governor of Ebonyi State from May 29, 2015, to May 29, 2023, and is currently the Minister of Works in Nigeria. He co-founded Norman Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited in 1990, serving as its General Manager until 1993. He also founded Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Ltd., Focus Investment Nigeria Ltd., and Osborn La Palm Royal Resort Ltd.
Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii is the founder and chairman of Orient Global Group, which includes subsidiaries like Orient Global Manufacturing, Orient Haulage & Logistics, and Purity Agro-Allied Ltd. He is also the president and CEO of Ultimus Holdings, which owns The Classroom by Ultimus and Viarmor Healthcare Ltd. In addition to his business ventures, he was the 2023 gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State.
Adamawa State
Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria, is a prominent businessman with an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion according to BuzzNigeria. He claims to be the largest private employer of labour in Nigeria, employing about 50,000 people through his various businesses. His companies include Intels (Integrated Logistics Services Nigerian Limited), Prodeco, Atiku Abubakar Farm, and ABTI Schools, which encompasses the American University of Nigeria (AUN).
Abdullahi Bashir Haske is the founder and Group Managing Director (GMD) of AA&R Investments Group. He is recognized as one of the youngest billionaires in Nigeria, and his company, Etihad Oilfield Services, has been credited with finding oil in the Komani River area of Bauchi State. He reportedly owns 51% stakes in the four oil blocks recovered from Addax Petroleum: OML 123, OML 124, OML 126, and OML 137.
Read also: Top 10 richest men in the world increase wealth by $201.8 bn in Q2 2024
Niger State
Sani Bello, a former military governor of old Kano State and father of the current Niger State Governor, is indeed a prominent businessman. He is the founder of Amni International Petroleum Development Company. His company has significant assets, including oil mining licenses OML 52, OML 112, and OML 11712. Additionally, Amni holds an 85% working interest in the Central Tano oil block in Ghana. His net worth is estimated at around $500 million on Forbes in 2013.
Enugu State
Peter Ndubuisi Mbah is a maritime lawyer and the founder and CEO of Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd. The company completed the development of a $1bn ultra-modern petroleum terminal with Single Point Mooring (SPM) and Conventional Buoy Mooring (CBM) storage facilities in the Lekki Free Trade Zone. He is also the sole agent of International Oil Corporation. Peter Mbah was the 2023 governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State.
Samuel Maduka Onyishi is indeed the founder of Peace Group of Companies and the owner of Peace Mass Transit, which operates a fleet of over 4,000 vehicles. He is also a non-executive director of May & Baker Nigeria. In 2021, he acquired Actis’s share in C&I Leasing through Peace Mass Transit, owning 55.82% of the company’s shares
Charles Mbah is the Chief Executive Officer of CDV Properties and Development Limited. He was recognized as the Sun Newspapers Investor of the Year in 2022. His real estate ventures include several estates such as CDV Mini Estate, White Oak Estate, South Lake Homes (Phases 1, 2, and 3), Diane Terraces, and Applewood Estates. Additionally, he owns Jason’s Tender Care Schools in Lagos.
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Nasarawa State
Umaru Tanko Al-Makura is the founder of Almakura Nigeria Limited, a company involved in importing and servicing agricultural and industrial machinery. He is also a real estate mogul and the owner and chairman of Ta’al Nigeria Limited, with properties in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Washington D.C. Additionally, he owns Ta’al Lake Resort in Abuja and Ta’al Conference Hotel in Lafia.
Kastina State
Dahiru Mangal, the founder of Max Air, one of Nigeria’s leading airlines operating domestic, regional, and international flight networks, sold his shares in Oando Plc to Live Investments and Realtors in 2021 for approximately 11.8 billion Naira. His company, Mangal Industries, is currently constructing a 3 million metric tons per year cement plant and a 50 megawatts power plant in Mopa, Kogi State, with the project valued at around $600 million.
Umaru Abdul Mutallab, the chairman of Jaiz Bank, Nigeria’s first Islamic bank, played a major role in introducing Islamic banking into Nigeria. He served as Nigeria’s Minister of Economic Development in 1975 and Minister of Cooperatives and Supplies in 1976. Additionally, he was the former chairman of First Bank of Nigeria and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa (UBA). Currently, he is the CEO of Mutallab Group, a Nigerian conglomerate.
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Kaduna State
Air Vice Marshal Ishaya Aboi Shekari served as the military governor of Kano State from September 1978 to October 1979. He has held significant positions such as a former director of Diamond Bank and the former chairman of Lion Bank of Nigeria. Currently, he is the chairman of the board for several companies, including Integrated Diaries, Mary Stem Security, Tenti Greens, Farm Fresh Products, Green Cereals, and Megani Holdings Limited.
Cross River State
Princess Fifi Ekanem Ejindu is the founder and CEO of Starcrest Group and Building Support Systems, with interests in real estate, oil and gas, and building construction. She also founded the African Arts and Fashion Initiative and is regarded as one of the leading female architects in Nigeria. Additionally, she serves as the grand patron of the prestigious Icons Club of Dubai.
John Ugbe is the CEO of MultiChoice Nigeria and the former chairman of the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria. He also served as the general manager of MWEB Nigeria. Under his leadership, MultiChoice Nigeria generated $475.5 million in revenue in 2021.
Read also: Top 10 richest men in the world worth $1.49 tn combined in Q1 2024
Abia State
Orji Uzor Kalu is the chairman of Slok Holding, a conglomerate with interests in shipping, banking, oil trading, manufacturing, and media. He has stewarded Nigeria’s commercial relations with China’s Sino-Pacific and Shipbuilding Company. He owns The Daily Sun newspaper, The New Telegraph newspaper, and Slok Airlines, among others. He was the former governor of Abia State and was re-elected as the senator of Abia North under the APC canopy in the 2023 general election. He was listed on Forbes in 2015 with a net worth of $330 million
Alex Otti is a former Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank PLC and has served on the board of several companies. He has also held positions as an Assistant General Manager at UBA and First Bank Nigeria. Recently, he launched his own bank, Signature Bank.
Uche Ogah is the President of Master Energy Group, which has interests in oil trading, gas services, and oil services, with products like Master Gas Cylinders, Master Lubricants, and Master Instant Noodles. He is the current Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development.
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Imo State
Pascal Gabriel Dozie, the founder of Diamond Bank, is also the chairman of Pan-Atlantic University and a former president of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. He served as the chairman of MTN Nigeria from 2001 to 2019. He owns a 1.6% stake in MTN Nigeria, valued at approximately $148.5 million
Sam Iwuajoku, often referred to as the king of the private jet business in Nigeria, is the chairman and CEO of Quits Aviation Services. He owns ExecuJet, which operates a 275,000-square-foot facility in the Free Trade Zone near the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Additionally, he owns Legend Hotel, a five-star hotel managed by Hilton, located within the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Felix Idiga is the chairman and CEO of the Jafac Group of Companies, which has interests in aviation and flight chartering, oil and gas, agriculture, dredging and construction, and hospitality.
Tony Ifeanyichukwu Ezenna is the founder of Orange Drugs Nigeria Limited, a company known for products such as Procold, Medic 55, Laris Passion Energy Drink, Delta Soap, Tempovate Cream, Gardia Mosquito Repellent Cream, and Ultra Tone Cream, among others.
