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.
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