Kogi | |
---|---|
Nicknames: | |
Coordinates: 7°30′N6°42′E / 7.500°N 6.700°E | |
Country | Nigeria |
Date created | 27 August 1991 |
Capital | Lokoja |
Government | |
• Body | Government of Kogi State |
• Governor | Usman Ododo (APC) |
• Deputy Governor | Salifu Joel (APC) |
• Legislature | Kogi State House of Assembly |
• Senators | C: Natasha Akpoti (PDP) E: Jibrin Isah (APC) W: Sunday Karimi (APC) |
• Representatives | List |
Area | |
• Total | 29,833 km2 (11,519 sq mi) |
• Rank | 13th of 36 |
Population (2006 census) | |
• Total | 3,314,043 [1] |
• Estimate (2022) | 4,466,800 [2] |
• Rank | 24th of 36 |
Demonym | Kogite |
GDP (PPP) | |
• Year | 2021 |
• Total | $23.88 billion [3] |
• Per capita | $4,593 [3] |
Time zone | UTC+01 (WAT) |
postal code | 260001 |
ISO 3166 code | NG-KO |
HDI (2022) | 0.625 [4] medium · 9th of 37 |
Website | www |
Kogi State is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria, [5] [6] bordered to the west by the states of Ekiti and Kwara, [7] [8] [9] to the north by the Federal Capital Territory, to the northeast by Nasarawa State, to the northwest by Niger State, to the southwest by the Edo and Ondo states, to the southeast by the states of Anambra and Enugu, and to the east by Benue State. It is the only state in Nigeria to border ten other states. Named after the Hausa word for river (Kogi). Kogi State was formed from parts of Benue State, Niger State, and Kwara State on 27 August 1991. [10] [11] [5] The state is nicknamed the "Confluence State" due to the fact that the confluence of the River Niger and the River Benue [12] occurs next to its capital, Lokoja. [13] [14]
Of the 36 states of Nigeria, Kogi is the thirteenth largest in the area and twentieth most populous with an estimated population of about 4.5 million as of 2022. [15] Geographically, the state is within the tropical Guinean forest–savanna mosaic ecoregion. Important geographic features include the key rivers, with the Niger flowing from the northwest and the Benue coming from the northeast before the two rivers meet in Kogi's centered and bisect the state southward. [16]
Kogi State has been inhabited for years by various ethnic groups, including the Igala, Ebira, Oko (Mainly Ogori and Magongo), Gbagyi, and Nupe (mainly the Bassa Nge, Kakanda, and Kupa subgroups) in the state's center; the Igala (most dominant in the east), Agatu, Basa-Komo and Idoma in the east; [17] and the (mainly the Okun, Ogori, Oworo, and Magongo subgroups) in the west and central. [18]
In the pre-colonial period, the area that is now Kogi State was split up between various states with some states being tiny and village-based as others were part of larger empires like the Nupe Kingdom which held much of now-western Kogi State until the early 1800s when the Fulani jihad annexed the kingdom and placed the area under the Sokoto Caliphate while the Eastern half of the State is the land of the ancient Igala Kingdom. In the 1900s and 1910s, British expeditions occupied the area and incorporated them into the Northern Nigeria Protectorate [19] [20] with its capital as Lokoja until 1903. The protectorate later merged into British Nigeria before becoming independent as Nigeria in 1960. Originally, modern-day Kogi State was a part of the post-independence Northern Region until 1967 when the region was split and the area became part of the North-Western State, Kwara State, and Benue-Plateau State. After the defunct Benue-Plateau and the North-Western states were splitted in 1976, Kogi became a part of the new Benue and Niger states along with Kwara. Western Benue State, southeastern Kwara State, and far southern Niger State were carved out to form the new Kogi State.
Economically, Kogi State is largely based around agriculture, mainly of coffee, cashew, groundnut, cocoa, oil palm, and yam crops. Other key industries are coal, limestone, marbles, Iron-Ore, feldspar, clay, cassiterite, columbite and tantalite, gold, gems, quartz, mica crude oil extraction and the livestock herding of cattle, goats, and sheep. [21] Kogi has both the 9th highest Human Development Index and GDP in the country. [22]
The climate of the state has an annual rainfall total of between 1,100mm and 1,300mm. The rainy season lasts from April to October each year while the dry season last sfrom November to March. The dry season is very dusty and cold as a result of the north-easterly winds, which bring in the harmattan. [23] Between 2001 and 2014 ,the built-up area increased by 10.68% and seven (7) adaptation strategies were employed by farmers in changing planting dates and change crop variety at 31%, 22%, and 21% respectively ,in response to change in rainfall. [24]
In October 2022, Kogi State witnessed one of the worst flood disasters in the history of the state. This is according to the state governor, Yahaya Bello, who said that "flooding has affected the nine LGAs which borders the Niger and Benue rivers to include, Lokoja, Kogi-Koto, Ajaokuta, Ofu, Igalamela-Odolu, Bassa, Idah, Ibaji and Omala". [25]
In 2012, floods ravaged the state of Kogi and others in Nigeria. A total of 623,690 displaced people were accommodated in 87 camps across the state during the period. Roads were unmotorable due to the flood. Many school buildings became refugee camps. Houses were submerged. Property and infrastructure was badly affected. Crops in farm fields were seriously damaged. [26] [27] The flood caused deaths, loss of property and destruction of farmland and produce estimated at N63.4 billion in nine local government areas of Kogi state. [28]
Kogi State is the only state in Nigeria that shares a boundary with ten other states. [29]
The state is famous for its productivity in business and agriculture, cultural diversity, hospitable citizens and beautiful landmarks.
There are three main ethnic groups and languages in Kogi: Igala people, Anebira, and Okun, with others such as Bassa Nge of Bassa L.G.A, Kupa and Kakanda speakers, who are a people of Nupe extraction under Lokoja L.G.A., Bassa-Komo which is also of Bassa Local government area, Oworo people, Igbo, Ogori Magongo, and Idoma.
The name Nigeria , was coined in Lokoja by Flora Shaw in the hill of Mount Patti, the future wife of Baron Lugard, a British colonial administrator, while gazing out at the river Niger . [30]
She, Flora Shaw is the daughter of an English father, Captain George Shaw, and a French mother, Marie Adrienne Josephine, a local of Mauritius (née Desfontaines; 1826–1871).
Kogi is a multi-ethnic state with over multiple indigenous languages spoken in the state. The main languages are Ebira, Igala and Yoruba (Okun). Other common languages include Nupe, Kakanda, Kupa, Bassa Nge, Basa Komu, Kupa, Hausa, Osayen. [31] Ogori in Kogi central speak Oko language.
The Okun (Yoruba) language is spoken in the Kogi West Senatorial District and Igbo is spoken in Ibaji and Igalamela-Odolu local government areas of the state.
Kogi is religiously diverse with about 45% of the state's population are Muslim with about 40% being Christian and the remaining 15% following traditional ethnic religions minorities.
Sheikh Aminu Sha'aban was turbaned as the Imam of Lokoja in December 2019. [32]
The Ecclesiastical Province of Lokoja with the Anglican Church of Nigeria led by Archbishop Daniel Abubakar Yisa covers Kogi and Niger States and includes the six Dioceses of Ijumu (2008) led by Bishop Paul Olarewaju Ojo (2018), Kabba (1996) led by Bishop Steven Kadoye Akobe (2010), Lokoja (1994) led by Bishop Emmanuel Egbunu (2004), Ogori-Magongo led by Bishop Festus Davies (2009), Okene (2008) led by Bishop Emmanuel Onsachi (2017) and Idah led by Bishop Joseph Musa (2005).
The Catholic Church includes the Diocese of Idah (1968) with 56 parishes under Bishop Anthony Ademu Adaji (2009) and the Diocese of Lokoja (1955 as Kabba) with 43 parishes under Bishop Martin Dada Abejide Olorunmolu (2005), both suffragans of the Archdiocese of Abuja.
Kogi State consists of twenty-one local government areas. Which are:
Tourist attractions in Kogi State include; The Azad's palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, the colonial relics (such as Lord Lugard House), Mount Patti, World War Cenotaph, the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue, Ogidi (An African town with formations of Igneous Rock mountains and a traditional art & craft industry) and natural land features hills and terrains that serve as hiking trails.
Some tourists visit on day trips from Abuja, which is a two-hour drive away. Kogi State Tourism and Hotels Company Limited was established to promote tourism in the state. The state government plans and harnesses the high potentials of tourism including the development of historical landmarks at Lokoja. [33]
Kogi State connects the Federal Capital Territory with 22 Southern States.
Federal Highways are:
Other major roads include
The River Niger and Benue are both navigable waterways.
Being in close proximity to the federal capital territory, Abuja International Airport serves as the national and international gateway for air travelers from and to the state. Good telecommunications services are available in the state.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy. There are many farm products from the state, including coffee, cocoa, palm oil, cashews, groundnuts, maize, cassava, yam, rice and melon.
Mineral resources include coal, limestone, iron, petroleum and tin. The state is home to the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, the largest iron and steel industry in Nigeria and the Obajana Cement Factory, one of the largest cement factories in Africa.
Kogi state is home to the Federal University (Lokoja), [34] Kogi State University [35] Anyigba, Confluence University of Science and Technology Osara, Federal Polytechnic Idah, [36] Kogi State Polytechnic [37] (Lokoja), Federal College of Education (Okene), College of Education (Ankpa), College of Agriculture Kabba, Kogi state college of education, technical (Kabba) and the Private Salem University, [38] Lokoja. There are a college of nursing and midwifery in Anyigba and Obangede, a School of health tech in Idah, and ECWA School of Nursing in Egbe. [39]
Kogi State has produced sprinters and other sportsmen, who have contributed to the growth of sports worldwide. Kogi United and Babanawa F.C. are football teams based in the state. Other sports, such as swimming, handball, and table tennis, are actively promoted in the state.[ citation needed ]
Sportsmen from the state include Shola Ameobi who played football as a striker for Newcastle United and for other English Premier League teams. Sunday Bada was a 400 metre sprinter who won three medals at the World Indoor Championships, including a gold medal in 1997, and won a gold medal with the Nigerian team in the 4 × 400 metres relay at the 2000 Olympics.
The State government is led by a democratically elected governor who works closely with members of the state's house of assembly. The capital city of the state is Lokoja [40]
The electoral system of each state is selected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two -thirds of the State's and local government Areas. If no candidate passes the threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government Areas. [40]
Three senators have represented Kogi state since the return of democracy in 1999. The state is divided into three senatorial districts, with Kogi East, Kogi West and Kogi Central returning one senator each. [41]
Lokoja is a north-central city in Nigeria. It lies at the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers and is the capital city of Kogi State. While the Bassa Nge, Yoruba (Oworo) and Nupe are indigenous to the area, other ethnic groups, including the Kupa-Nupe, Hausa, Ebira, Igala, Igbo, Bini/Edo, and Tiv have recently established themselves. Lokoja is projected to be the third fastest growing city on the African continent between 2020 and 2025, with a 5.93% growth rate. It was listed as a second class township by the 1917 township ordinance of the colonial administration, indicating that Lokoja is an old city.
Idah is a town in Kogi State, Nigeria, on the eastern bank of the Niger River in the middle belt region of Nigeria. It is the headquarter of the Igala Kingdom, and also a Local Government Area with an area of 36 km2. Idah had a population of 79,815 at the 2006 census.
Okene is a town in the Nigerian state of Kogi. The town is based in a Local Government Area of the same name. Okene runs along the A2 highway. It had an area of 328 km2 and a population of 320,260 at the 2006 census.
The Igala people are a Egypt-Migrants ethnolinguistic group native to the region immediately south of the confluence of the Niger and Benue Rivers in central Nigeria. The area inhabited primarily by the Igala is referred to as Igalaland. Situated in an especially ecologically diverse region of Nigeria, the Igala have traditionally engaged in crop cultivation, and have been influenced culturally by many surrounding cultures over the centuries. Today, people of Igala descent are estimated to be at a population of 1.68 million people.
Kabba is a town in Kogi State in mid west Nigeria. It lies near the Osse River, at the intersection of roads from Lokoja, Okene, Ogidi, Ado-Ekiti, and Egbe. The town is about 295 kilometers away from Abuja. It is 511 kilometers from Lagos.
Igala is a Yoruboid language, spoken by the Igala ethnic group of Nigeria. In 1989 an estimated 800,000 spoke Igala, primarily in Kogi State, though current estimates place the number of Igala speakers at upwards of 1.6 million. Dialects include Ibaji, Idah, Dekina, Ogugu, Ankpa, Ebu, and the Olumbanasaa group ; it is believed that these languages share some similarities with the Yoruba and Itsekiri languages.
Nigeria has 774 local government areas (LGAs), each administered by a local government council consisting of a chairman, who is the chief executive, and other elected members, who are referred to as councillors. Each LGA is further subdivided into a minimum of ten and a maximum of twenty wards. A ward is administered by a councillor, who reports directly to the LGA chairman. The councillors fall under the legislative arm of the Local Government, the third tier of government in Nigeria, below the state governments and the federal government.
The Ebira people are an ethnic-linguistic group of North central Nigeria. Most Ebira people are from Kogi State and Nasarawa State. Their language is usually classified as Nupoid and within the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo language family. Until the separation of Kogi State from Kwara State, Okene was seen as the administrative center of the Ebira-speaking people in Kogi state, located not far from the Niger-Benue confluence. Since the formation of the state, the Ebira Ta'o people are predominantly found in five local governments in Kogi state, namely Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi, Okene and Ogori/Magongo. They are also found in large numbers located in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Nasarawa in Toto LGA. Also, the Eganyi are found in Ajaokuta LGA. And the Etuno can be found in Igarra town of Agorimagongo, Okehi and Okene each with their administrative headquarters. Ebira Koto is found in Kogi and Koton Karfe LGA, Bassa LGA, Lokoja in Kogi and Abaji LGA in the Federal Capital Territory, Akoko-Edo LGA, Edo State.
The Nigerian National Assembly delegation from Kogi comprises three Senators representing Kogi Central, Kogi East, and Kogi West, and nine Representatives representing Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ankpa, Bassa, Dekina, Ibaji, Idah, Igalamela-Odolu, Ijumu, Kabba/Bunu, Koton Karfe, Lokoja, Mopa-Muro, Ofu, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, Okene, Olamaboro, Omala, Yagba East, and Yagba West.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Idah is a Latin suffragan diocese located in the city of Idah, Kogi State in the ecclesiastical province of Abuja, in Nigeria, yet remains subject to the Roman missionary Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
Ankpa is a Local Government Area in Kogi State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Ankpa on the A233 highway in the west of the area at 7°22′14″N7°37′31″E.
The Basa language, disambiguated as Basa-Benue, and also called Abacha, Abatsa, ru-Basa, Rubassa, is a Kainji language spoken in central Nigeria, in the vicinity of Bassa, Ankpa, Nasarawa, Gurara, Kwali and Makurdi. Blench (2008) notes that Basa-Makurdi, Basa-Gurara and Basa-Kwali are separate varieties from Basa-Kwomu or Basa-Komo of Bassa, Ankpa and Nasarawa Local Government Areas and other Bassa speakers are Bassa Nge (also known as Bassa Nupe.
The Okun people are the Yoruba speaking people found majorly in Kogi, but with settlements in Kwara, Ekiti, and Ondo states of Nigeria. Their dialects are generally classified in the Northeast Yoruba language (NEY) grouping. They are collectively called "Okun", which in Okun dialects could mean "Sorry", "Well-done", or as an all-encompassing greeting. Similarly, this form of greeting is also found among the Ekiti, Ijesha and Igbomina groups of Yoruba people.
The Anglican Province of Lokoja is one of the 14 ecclesiastical provinces of the Church of Nigeria. It comprises 11 dioceses. The Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Lokoja and Bishop of Minna is Daniel Abubakar Yisa. He was preceded by Emmanuel Sokowamju Egbunu.
Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni II was the 27th Àtá Ígálá of the Igala Kingdom in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.
The 2023 Kogi State gubernatorial election was held on 11 November 2023 to elect the Governor of Kogi State. Incumbent APC Governor Yahaya Bello was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third term in office. The primaries were scheduled for between 27 March and 17 April 2022.
The 2019 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Kogi State was held on February 23, 2019, to elect members of the House of Representatives to represent Kogi State, Nigeria.
Matthew Alaji Opaluwa Oguche Akpa II is the 28th Àtá Ígálá of the Igala Kingdom in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.
The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Kogi State were held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Kogi State, one from each of the state's three senatorial districts. The elections coincided with the 2023 presidential election, as well as other elections to the Senate and elections to the House of Representatives; with state elections being held two weeks later. Primaries were held between 4 April and 9 June 2022.
The 2023 Nigerian presidential election in Kogi State will be held on 25 February 2023 as part of the nationwide 2023 Nigerian presidential election to elect the president and vice president of Nigeria. Other federal elections, including elections to the House of Representatives and the Senate, will also be held on the same date while state elections will be held two weeks afterward on 11 March.
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