Number of states in Nigeria.

**The reasoning** Nigeria is a federation divided into **36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja**. This structure was finalized in 1996 when the last six states were created under General Sani Abacha's military government. The 36 states are spread across six geopolitical zones (North-West, North-East, North-Central, South-West, South-East, and South-South), with each state having its own governor and state assembly. This is a fundamental fact about Nigeria's political structure that appears frequently in Government, Civics, and General Knowledge sections. **Why the wrong options tempt you** - **A (30)** reflects Nigeria's state count before 1991 - **B (32)** might come from confusion with earlier state creations - **D (38)** could trick you if you mistakenly count FCT as a state plus add phantom states The key trap is mixing up historical state counts or misunderstanding that **FCT Abuja is NOT counted as a state**—it's a separate federal territory. **Quick takeaway** Remember: **36 states + 1 FCT = Nigeria's current structure since 1996.** When anyone asks for "number of states," the answer is always 36, not 37.