Top 5 Richest Emirs in Nigeria: The Emir, a traditional ruler in the North, holds a position of great influence and respect among their subjects, similar to the Oba in the West and the Obi in the East. Despite the diminishing authority of traditional rulers in the face of democratic rule, they continue to play a significant role in their communities. Although they do not possess any constitutional power, they are supported by the government and maintain a level of influence over their subjects.

Nigeria is home to a remarkable number of 548 emirates and chiefdoms in the North, each with its own ruler overseeing a specific community. While not all Emirs are billionaires, there are several among them who have amassed considerable wealth. In this article, I will provide an overview of the 5 richest Emirs in Nigeria and their respective net worths. 

Top 5 Richest Emirs in Nigeria (2024)

     1.      Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar:

Estimated Net Worth: $100, 000

Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, the 20th Sultan of Sokoto, has an estimated net worth of $100 million. He ascended to the throne on November 2, 2006, following the death of his brother, Muhammadu Maccido, in the ADC Airlines Flight 53 tragedy. As the spiritual leader of Nigeria's Muslim community, he holds the highest position in the Qadiri branch of Sufism and the Maliki school of Islam.

Additionally, he serves as the president-general of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the leader of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), also known as the Society for the Support of Islam. Born on August 24, 1956, in Sokoto, Sa’adu Abubakar is the youngest child of Sir Siddiq Abubakar III, the 17th Sultan. He received his education at Zaria’s Barewa College and later joined the Nigerian Defence Academy's 18th Regular Course in 1975. Abubakar was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1977 and served in the prestigious Armored Corps, including overseeing a presidential security squad for General Ibrahim Babangida. He also played a role in the Organization of African Unity, leading a battalion of African soldiers in Chad during the early 1980s.

Furthermore, he served as the military liaison officer for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and held various commanding positions, such as the Commanding Officer of the 241 Recce Battalion in Kaduna and the commanding commander of the 231 Tank Battalion (ECOMOG Operations) in Sierra Leone. He has also been accredited for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

     2.      Aminu Ado Bayero:

Estimated Net worth: $20 million

Aminu Ado Bayero, the fifteenth Fulani Emir of Kano, has an estimated net worth of $20 million. He ascended to the throne on March 9, 2020, after his nephew Muhammad Sanusi was removed by Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Aminu Ado Bayero was born on February 10, 1961, as the second-eldest son of Ado Bayero, who served as Kano's emir from 1963 to 2014, making him the longest-serving emir in the city's history. Aminu Ado Bayero's siblings include Nasiru Ado Bayero, the Emir of Bichi, and his older brother Sanusi Ado Bayero. In 2014, Muhammadu Sanusi II, his father's grandnephew, took over as Emir of Kano until he was removed from position by the Kano State government in 2020.

Aminu Ado Bayero received his early Islamic education at home, where he learned the Qur'an, monotheism, Islamic law, and the customs of the Prophet Muhammad. He then attended Government College, Birnin Kudu, after completing his primary education at Kofar Kudu Primary School. Following his time at Flying College in Oakland, California, he pursued a degree in mass communication at Bayero University Kano. He also completed his one-year National Youth Service Corps assignment at Nigeria Television Authority in Makurdi.

Before becoming a flight engineer, Bayero worked as a public relations officer for Kabo Air. In 1990, his father named him Dan Majen Kano and district head of Dala. Later that year, he was elevated to Dan Buram Kano, and in 2000, he became Sarkin Dawakin Tsakar Gida Kano after being promoted to Turakin Kano in 1992.

Aminu Ado Bayero also served as the head of the durbar committee of the Kano emirate. In 2014, he moved from Dala to Kano Municipal after being elevated to Wamban Kano by the then-emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II. In 2019, he was appointed as the emir of Bichi by the governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

In recognition of his contributions, President Muhammadu Buhari honored him with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in October 2022.

     3.      Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha:

Estimated Net worth: $5 million

Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha, born on February 13, 1944, is the Lamido of Adamawa, the traditional ruler of Adamawa State, Nigeria. He assumed this title on March 18, 2010. Barkindo, the oldest son of Lamido Aliyu Musdafa, was born in Yola. He attended Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where he obtained a diploma in law in 1969 after completing his education at Barewa College in Zaria. He further pursued his studies at St. Clements University in the Turks & Caicos Islands from 2000 to 2002 and at North London Polytechnic from 1973 to 1975.

Throughout his career, Barkindo held various positions in different organizations. He worked for the National Freight Company, Nigerian Port Authority, and Nigeria Customs Service. He also served in the Gongola State public service, where he eventually became the Commissioner for Works and later Animal Health. Additionally, Barkindo held positions such as chairman of Stirling Civil Engineering Nigeria Limited from 1991 to 2003, director of the National Engineering and Technical Company from 1991 to 1993, and chairman of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria from 2003 to 2005. His estimated net worth is $5 million.

    4.    Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli:

Estimated Networth: $4 million

Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, a Nigerian lawyer and diplomat, is estimated to have a net worth of $4 million. Born on June 8, 1966, he currently holds the position of the 19th Fulani Emir of Zazzau, a traditional state in Nigeria with its capital in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Ahmed's career has been diverse and impressive. He previously served as the Nigerian ambassador to Thailand. He is the first member of the Mallawa royal family to ascend to the throne in a hundred years, following the overthrow of his grandfather, Emir Alu Dan Sidi, in 1920.

Born in Kwarbai Zaria, Kaduna State, Ahmed is the first son of Nuhu Bamalli, a former Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs. He obtained a law degree (LLB) from Ahmadu Bello University in 1989 and a master's degree in international politics and diplomacy in 2002. He also holds a postgraduate certificate in management from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology. Additionally, he has completed various leadership and management programs, including a conflict resolution fellowship at the University of York in 2009, a certificate in organizational leadership from the University of Oxford in 2015, and the General Management Program (GMP) at Harvard Business School in 2011.

Prior to his current role, Ahmed held positions in organizations such as Mtel (the mobile division of the former Nigerian Telecommunications Limited), the Metropolitan Management Agency, banking institutions, and the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Limited, where he served as the executive director and later as the acting managing director.

In 2015, he served as a permanent commissioner for the Independent Electoral Commission of Kaduna State. Before becoming the Emir of Zazzau, he held the title of Magajin Garin Zazzau and served as Nigeria's ambassador to Myanmar and Thailand.

On October 7, 2020, Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli was appointed as the new Emir of Zazzau by Nasir el-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna State. He was also honored with the national title of Commander Of The Order Of The Federal Republic (CFR) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

     5.      Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa:

Estimated Net worth: $2 million

Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa has an estimated net worth of $2 million. He hails from the Sullubawa clan and is the fourth member of the Sullubawa dynasty. Born on January 9, 1952, he is the chancellor of the University of Ilorin and previously served as the chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University.

The Adamawa Emirate, founded in 1809 by Modibbo Adama, a renowned scholar and spiritual guide, celebrated its 200th anniversary in April 2009. Barkindo played a significant role in the organizing committee as the deputy chairman. Sadly, his father Aliyu Mustafa, who had ruled for 57 years, passed away on March 13, 2010, at the age of 88.

Barkindo's father, Aliyu Mustafa, prepared him for the throne and bestowed upon him the title of Chiroma Adamawa in 1980. He was also included in the emirate council in 1987. Following his father's demise, the kingmakers of the emirate evaluated six candidates and unanimously recommended Barkindo as the 12th Lamido of Adamawa, just five days after his father's passing.