Taraba is a state in north-eastern Nigeria, named after the Taraba River, which traverses the southern part of the state. It is nicknamed "Nature's Gift to the Nation". The state capital is Jalingo. It is home to a diverse population including about 80 distinct ethnicities and their languages.[5][6][7]
Taraba state was created out of the former Gongola state on 27 August 1991 by the military government of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. The state is an amalgamation of three former divisions: Wukari, Mambilla, and Muri.
The Benue, Donga, and Taraba are the main rivers in the state. They begin in the Cameroonian mountains, draining almost the entire length of the state on their way North, before heading west to link up with the Niger River.[8]
Climate
Taraba state has an annual average temperature of 33°C. It receives 100.64 millimeters (3.96 inches) of rainfall a year, with increased rainfall around August,[9] and has an average relative humidity of 54.98%. The state is hottest in March and April with an average high of 40.44°C.[10]
Flood
In April 2023, many homes and commercial buildings in Taraba State were affected by flooding.[11][12]
The state government is led by a democratically elected governor and the state's House of Assembly. The capital city of the state is Jalingo.[13]
Electoral system
The governor of the state is selected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive a plurality of votes and over 25% of votes in at least two-thirds of state and local government areas. If no candidate passes the threshold, a second round is held between the two candidates that received a plurality of votes in the most local government areas.[14]
Other languages spoken in Taraba State are Akum, Bukwen, Esimbi, Fali of Baissa, Jiba, Njerep, Tha, Yandang, Yotti, Ywom.[16]
Demographics
The state's primary ethnic groups are the Jukun, Jenjo, Fulani, Mumuye, Mambilla, Kuteb, Karimjo Wurkun, Tiv, Yandang, Ndola, Ichen, Tigon, and Jibu. The northern part of the state is mostly Fulani, Mumuye, and Sho. The southern part of the state is primarily Jukun, Wurkum, Tiv, Chamba, Kuteb, and Ichen. The central region is mainly occupied by the Fulani, Mambilla, Ndola, Tigon, Jibu, Wurbo, and Daka people.
A8, south from Burtol for 166km to Gembu, unconnected to the A8 Highway in Adamawa State. Notably, there is a road to Cameroon east from A8 at Gembu to N6 at Banyo.
The major occupation of the people of Taraba state is agriculture. Cash crops produced in the state include coffee, tea, groundnuts and cotton.[20] Crops such as maize, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava, and yam are also produced in commercial quantity.[21] In addition, cattle, sheep and goats are reared in large numbers, especially on the Mambilla Plateau and along the Benue and Taraba valleys.[22] Similarly, the people of Taraba state undertake other livestock production, such as poultry production, rabbit breeding and pig farming in fairly large scale. In February 2024, the World Bank in Nigeria announced plans to empower 5,200 female livestock farmers in the state.[23] Communities living on the banks of the Benue River, Taraba River, and Donga River engage in fishing all year round. Other occupational activities such as pottery, cloth-weaving, dyeing, mat-making, carving, embroidery, and blacksmithing are carried out in various parts of the state.[24][25]
Natural resources
Taraba state has abundant natural resources for industrial and commercial use, including:[26]
The state government has made improvements to tourist attractions, such as the Mambilla Tourist Center, and Gumpti Park and game reserve in Gashaka. The Karimjo Abedahh festival and Nwunyu fishing festival in Ibi are usually held in April each year, with activities such as canoe racing, a swimming competition, and cultural dances. Other festivals are the Purma of the Chamba in Donga, Takum and Jibu culture dance in Bali, Tagba of Acha People in Takum, Kuchecheb of Kutebs in Takum and Ussa,[28] Kati and Bol of the Mambilla, and a host of others.
The State encompasses part of the Mambilla Region, which is the Bantu cradle, and area occupied for approximately five millennia to date.[29]
Gwagir Lake (SGEN or Tunga) in Mambilla, Taraba State
Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve, Mambilla Plateau, 2012
Cijin Lake in Gembu
Notable people
This article's list of residents may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article and are residents, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations.(October 2025) ( Learn how and when to remove this message )
Late Aisha Alhassan - Former Nigerian Minister of Women Affairs, Former Senator of the Northern Zone of Taraba
Emmanuel Bwacha - Former Senator Representing Southern Taraba.
Haruna Manu - Senator Representing Central Taraba, Former Deputy Governor, Former Member House of Representative of the Bali Gassol Federal Constituency
Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf - Former Senator Representing Central Taraba, Member of the All Progressive Congress(APC), Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC)
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