When you hear the name “Enugu,” your mind likely jumps straight to the capital—the historic “Coal City.” But if you start counting how many actual “cities” exist in Enugu State, you might find the answer is surprisingly simple, yet a little complex.

Here is the breakdown of the official count versus the functional reality of urban centers in the state:

The Simple, Official Answer: One

In terms of official, universally recognized major Nigerian cities, Enugu State is typically counted as having one true city:

• Enugu: The state capital, founded on the coal industry, is the undisputed commercial, administrative, and most populous urban center, spanning three Local Government Areas (Enugu North, Enugu East, and Enugu South). It holds the formal designation and status of the primary city.

The Functional and Evolving Reality

Outside of the capital, the other major urban centers in Enugu are historically and commonly referred to as major towns. These settlements serve as crucial economic and administrative hubs for their respective zones, making them function like smaller cities.

The most notable of these include:

• Nsukka: An indispensable educational hub that hosts the main campus of the University of Nigeria (UNN). It is the second-largest urban area by population and is the administrative center for the entire Enugu North Senatorial Zone.
• Awgu
• Udi
• Oji-River
• Agbani

The New “Urban Area” Designation

It’s important to note a recent development that blurs the lines between a “town” and a “city.” The Enugu State government recently took steps to formalize the status of major settlements by designating several Local Government Areas as official Urban Areas.

Under this administrative classification, which is a step toward greater urban planning and development, entire LGAs are now legally recognized as urban. These include:

• Enugu East, Enugu North, and Enugu South (The Enugu City core)
• Udi
• Nkanu West
• Nkanu East
• Nsukka

The Takeaway: While functionally you might consider Enugu and Nsukka to be the two biggest cities, in the strict sense of a Nigerian state’s primary metropolis, the count remains one: Enugu. The rest are officially classified as major towns or newly designated urban areas, reflecting the state’s ongoing growth and development across all 17 local governments.