Top 10 Most Spoken Nigerian Languages

English is Nigeria’s official language; however,
Nigeria’s large population is responsible for its
linguistic diversity which encompasses three
major African language families: Afroasiatic, Nilo-
Saharan, and Niger–Congo.
Figures for the number of spoken Nigerian
languages range from 250 to over 500 with
Ethnologue placing the exact number for Nigeria
at 527. This anomaly arises where scholars are in
disagreement over which language constitutes
‘language’ and which constitutes ‘dialect’. Ajawa,
Auyokawa, Basa-Gumna, Gamo-Ningi, Holma,
Kpati, Kubi, Mawa and Teshenawa are now
extinct Nigerian languages.
These are the top ten most spoken Nigerian
languages.
Hausa
Hausa (or Abakwariga, Habe, Haoussa, Hausawa,
Kado, Mgbakpa) is often associated with Islamic
culture in Nigeria and West Africa. As one of the
most spoken Nigerian languages, 18.5 million
native speakers are found in Sokoto, Kaduna,
Katsina, Kano, Bauchi, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi,
and Gombe states. Hausa is also spoken by 25
million people in West Africa including Chad, Cote
d’Ivoire, Ghana, Niger, Senegal, Sudan and Togo
where large Hausa communities exist. Hausa is
also the second language of 15 million more
people in Nigeria making it the most spoken
language in sub-Saharan Africa and has
prompted international radio stations like the
BBC, China Radio International and Voice of
Russia to broadcast in Hausa.
Igbo
Igbo (Asusu Igbo) is the principle language
spoken by about 24 million people (primarily of
Igbo descent) in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu
and Imo States. Igbo is also spoken in some
parts of Akwa Ibom (Ika LGA), Delta (Oshimili,
Aniocha, and Ndokwa LGAs) and Rivers States
(Ikwerre, Bonny, and Ahoada LGAs). Significant
Igbo speakers are also found in Cameroun while
in Equatorial Guinea, Igbo is a recognized
minority language. Numerous Igbo dialects exist
(some of which are not mutually intelligible)
including Bonny-Opobo, Ngwa and Olu.
Interestingly, in 2009 the US Army scouted for
recruits who could speak one of 35 languages
including Igbo.
Yoruba
Yoruba (or Yoruba, Yooba) is the native tongue of
the Yoruba people and is spoken by
approximately 18.9 million people concentrated in
Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Kwara, and Lagos states
and parts of Kogi State. Outside Nigeria, Yoruba
is spoken in Benin, Togo and by Nigerian
immigrants in the UK and the USA raising the
total number of native Yoruba speakers to over
19 million and making it one of the top most
spoken Nigerian languages worldwide enm3333.
In addition, about 2 million people speak Yoruba
as a second language. Yoruba has over fifteen
dialects including Awori, Ijesha, Ilaje and Ila.
Fulfude
Fulfulde (or Fulani, Fula) is of Senegambian origin
but now spoken by cattle pastoralists across the
Sahel and largely in Northern Nigeria by the
Fulani diaspora. In Nigeria, 1.7 million Fulfude
speakers are found in Kano, Katsina, Zaria, Jos
plateau, Bororo, Maiduguri and Sokoto. In total,
there are 19 African countries stretched across
West, East and Central Africa that are home to
about 25 million Fulfude speakers. In Senegal and
Guinea, the language is called Pulaar and Pular
respectively. A number of Fulfude dialects exist
including Bororo, Kano-Katsina, Adamawa Fulfude
and Benin-Togo.
Kanuri Central
As one of the most spoken Nigerian languages,
Kanuri (or Beriberi, Bornu, Kanouri, Kanoury,
Yerwa Kanuri), is the principle representative
tongue of the Nilo-Saharan linguistic group.
Three million native speakers are mainly located
in Borno State (Kukawa, Kaga, Konduga,
Maiduguri, Monguno, Ngala, Bama, and Gwoza
LGAs), Yobe State (Nguru, Geidam, Damaturu,
Fika, Fune, and Gujba LGAs) and Jigawa State
(Hadejia LGA). In addition, about 500,000 people
use Kanuri as a second language in Nigeria.
Although many dialects exist including Kaga,
Fadawa and Yerwa linguists agree that the
Maiduguri dialect is universally understood.
Ijaw
The Ijaw people speak 9 closely related Niger-
Congo languages which are divided into Eastern
Ijaw and Western Ijaw with Izon being the most
prominent member the latter. Ijaw (or Izo, Uzo,
Ijo, Central-Western Ijo) is spoken by almost 2
million people in Bayelsa (Yenogoa, Souther Ijaw,
Kolokuma-Opokuma, Ekeremor and Sagbama
LGAs), Delta State (Burutu, Warri and Ughelli
LGAs), Ondo State (Ilaje Ese-Odo LGAs) and Ekiti
State (Ikole LGA). A number of dialects exist
including Arogbo, Egbema, Ikibiri and West Tarairi
with about 30 of them being inherently intelligible.
Pidgin English
Nigerian Pidgin English (or Pidgin, Broken English,
Broken) is a blend of English and ethnic Nigerian
languages spoken operating as a kind of lingua
franca across Nigeria.It is estimated that Pidgin
is the native language of approximately 3 to 5
million people mainly concentrated in the Niger
Delta region and is a second language for at least
another 75 million Nigerian people.
Tiv
Tiv is a branch of the Niger-Congo linguistic
family. As one of the most spoken Nigerian
languages, Tiv is spoken by over 2 million people
in Nigeria concentrated mainly in Benue State
(Makurdi, Gwer, Gboko Kwande, Vandeikya and
Katsina Ala LGAs). It is also widely spoken in
Plateau State (Lafia LGA) and Taraba State (Bali,
Takum, and Wukari LGAs) while there are also a
significant number of Tiv speakers found in
neighbouring Cameroon.
Ibibio
Ibibio (closely related to the Efik language) has
some 1.5 million native speakers with about 4.5
million level 2 users concentrated in Akwa Ibom
State in Itu, Uyo, Etinan, Ikot Abasi, Ikono, Ekpe-
Atai, Uruan, Onna, Nsit-Ubium, and Mkpat Enin
LGAs. Although several dialects exist, the more
common ones include Central Ibibio, Enyong, Itak
and Nsit. Ibibio is taught in primary and
secondary schools (and even online at
www.nsitatai.org ) with radio and television
programmes available in Akwa Ibom State.
Edo
Edo (or Ado, Benin, Bini, Oviedo and Ovioba) is
primarily spoken by at least 1 million people in
Edo State. Interestingly, in November 2013 a
scholar quoted the Esogban of Benin Kingdom as
raising alarm over the ‘likely extinction of the Bini
language’. This is possibly due to the lack of a
common language in Edo State, gradual decline of
speaking Edo in homes and the more pronounced
use of English and Pidgin English as lingua
franca.