Taraba State

Last updated

Taraba
State
Mambila Plateau of Taraba State.jpg
Mambilla Plateau of Taraba State
Taraba State Coat of Arms.png
Seal
Nicknames: 
Nature's Gift to the Nation
Nigeria - Taraba.svg
Location of Taraba State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 8°00′N10°30′E / 8.000°N 10.500°E / 8.000; 10.500
Country Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Date created 27 August 1991
Capital Jalingo
Government
 • BodyGovernment of Taraba State
 •  Governor
(List)		 Agbu Kefas (PDP)
 •  Deputy Governor Aminu Alkali (PDP)
 • Legislature Taraba State House of Assembly
 •  Senators C: Haruna Manu (PDP)
N: Shuaibu Isa Lau (PDP)
S: David Jimkuta (APC)
 •  Representatives List
Area
 • Total
54,473 km2 (21,032 sq mi)
 • Rank 3rd of 36
Population
 (2006 census)
 • Total
2,294,800 [1]
 • Estimate 
(2022)
3,609,800 [2]
 • Rank 30th of 36
GDP (PPP)
 • Year2021
 • Total$13.27 billion [3]
 • Per capita$3,720 [3]
Time zone UTC+01 (WAT)
postal code
660001
ISO 3166 code NG-TA
HDI (2022)0.527 [4]
low · 26th of 37
Website tarabastate.gov.ng

Taraba is a state in north-eastern Nigeria, named after the Taraba River, which traverses the southern part of the state. It is known as "Nature's Gift to the Nation". Its capital is Jalingo. The state's main ethnic groups are the Fulani, Mumuye, Mambilla, Jukun, Kuteb, Karimjo Wurkun, Yandang, Ndola, Ichen, Jenjo, Tiv, Tigon, and Jibu. The northern part is mainly dominated by the Fulani, Wurkun and Mumuye. The southern part is dominated by the Jukun, Chamba, Tiv, Kuteb and Ichen. The central region is mainly occupied by the Fulani, Mambilla, Ndola, Tigon, Jibu, Wurbo, and Daka people. There are about 80 distinct ethnic groups and their languages in the state.

Contents

History

The 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.

Geography

Donga River, Taraba state Donga River, Taraba state.jpg
Donga River, Taraba state

Taraba state is bordered in the west by Nasarawa state and Benue state (for 109 km), northwest by Plateau state for 202 km (126 miles), north by the Bauchi state for 54 km and Gombe state for 58 km, northeast by Adamawa state for about 366 km and south by Northwest Region in Cameroon for about 525 km.

The Benue, Donga, Taraba and Ibi are the main rivers in the state. They rise from the Cameroonian mountains, draining almost the entire length of the state in the North and South directions to link up with the River Niger. [5]

Boat Mishaps In Taraba State

"Three children's bodies have been found after a boat carrying passengers capsized on Saturday while traveling from the Mayo-Renewo market to the Karim Lamido neighborhood of Taraba," according to diverse media reports.

On Sunday, October 29, 2023, Abdullahi Usman, the state's police spokesperson, confirmed the incident to TheCable. Given that they are passengers from the Mayo-Renewo market traveling to Karim Lamido, he said the exact number of passengers on that boat has yet to be determined.

Climate

The climate of Taraba state is marked by an annual average temperature of 33°C but high level of cold in January and an increased rainfall in August. [6] The percentage of rainfall in Taraba state is 40.35% with 54.98% relative humidity. The state is usually very warm in March with 40.44°C, and an average wind of 8.84 km/h. [7]

Flood

Many homes and commercial buildings in Taraba State are affected by flooding, including those in the suburbs. [8] [9]

Healthcare

Taraba State has several hospitals and health care centers, some of them are:

Local government areas

Taraba State consists of sixteen (16) Local Government Areas (LGAs), which are governed by elected chairmen. The local government areas are listed as follows:

Languages

Languages of Taraba state listed by LGA include: [11]

LGALanguages
Ardo Kola Fulfulde; Mumuye, Jibu (Jukun Kona), and Hausa
Bali Fulfulde; Ichen Language Fam; Gbaya, Northwest; Jibu; Jukun Takum; Kam; Mumuye; Ndoola; Chamba Dakka; chamba leko; Tiv; Hausa.
Donga Ichen Language, Ekpan, Chamba Leko, Tiv.
Gashaka Fulfulde, Jibu, Ndola, Chamba Daka; Yamba,Tiv and Hausa.
Gassol Fulfulde, Wapan, Tiv
Ibi Fulfulde Duguri; Dza, Tiv, Wanu
Jalingo Fulfulde; Mumuye; Jibu (Jukun Kona), and Hausa
Karim Lamido Fulfulde; Dadiya; Dza; Jiba; Jiru; kodei; Kulung; Kyak; Laka; Munga Lelau; Loo; Mághdì; Mak; Munga Doso; Mumuye; Nyam; Pangseng; Wurkun-Anphandi; Shoo-Minda-Nye; Yandang; Hõne; Kwa; Pero. Hausa.
Kurmi Ndoro; Ichen language; Tigun language; Abon; Bitare.
Lau Fufulde; Dza; Loo; Yandang, Laka and Hausa.
Sardauna Mambila; Kaka; Banso; Kambu; Fulfulde; Tiv.
Takum Mashi; Bete; Ichen Language, Chamba Daka; Jukun Takum; Kapya; Kpan; Kpati; Kuteb; Lufu; Acha language Acha; Tiv; Yukuben
Ussa Kuteb
Wukari Wapan, Ichen Language; Ekpan; Kpati; Kulung; Tarok; Tiv;
Yorro Fulfulde; Mumuye, Hausa
Zing Mumuye, Nyong; Rang; Yandang

Other languages spoken in Taraba State are Akum, Bukwen, Esimbi, Fali of Baissa, Jiba, Njerep, Tha, Yandang, Yotti, Ywom. [11]

Education

Taraba State has many schools and education centers.

Universities

Transport

Transportation on the Lamido river Transportation In river Lamido, Taraba State.jpg
Transportation on the Lamido river

Federal highways are:

One road to Cameroon east from A8 at Gembu to N6 at Banyo.

Other major roads include

Airports include

Agriculture

A man weeding rice crops in Taraba State A man weeds his rice crop.jpg
A man weeding rice crops in Taraba State

The major occupation of the people of Taraba state is agriculture. Cash crops produced in the state include coffee, tea, groundnuts and cotton. [15] Crops such as maize, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava, and yam are also produced in commercial quantity. [16] In addition, cattle, sheep and goats are reared in large numbers, especially on the Mambilla Plateau, and along the Benue and Taraba valleys. [17] Similarly, the people of Taraba state undertake other livestock production activities like 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. [18] Communities living on the banks of River Benue, River Taraba, River Donga and Ibi, engage in fishing all year round. Other occupational activities such as pottery, cloth-weaving, dyeing, mat-making, carving, embroidery and blacksmithing are also carried out in various parts of the state. [19] [20]

Natural resources

Taraba state has abundant natural resources for industrial and commercial use, these include: [21]

Mineral raw materials

Agro-raw materials

Culture

The government has made concerted efforts to improve areas of tourist attractions like Mambilla Tourist Center, Gumpti Park and game reserve in Gashaka. Karimjo Abedahh festival and the Nwunyu fishing festival in Ibi, all this is usually held in April of each year where activities such as canoe racing, swimming competition and cultural dances are held. Other festivals are Purma of the Chamba in Donga, Takum and Jibu culture dance in Bali, the Tagba of Acha People in Takum, Kuchecheb of Kutebs in Takum and Ussa, [23] Kati and Bol of the Mambilla and host of others. Taraba is called "Nature's gift to the nation" as the state is rich and has many ethnic groups, including Kuteb, Chamba, Yandang, Mumuyes, Mambilla, Karimjo, Wurkums, Jenjo, Jukun, Ichen, Tiv, Kaka, Pena, Kambu, Kodei, Wawa, Vute, Fulani, Hausa and Ndola.

Mambilla Tribe of Taraba State Mambilla Tribe Taraba State.jpg
Mambilla Tribe of Taraba State

A striking historical fact about the State is that it encompasses part of the Mambilla Region which is famed as the Bantu cradle, having been occupied for some five millennia to date (Schwartz, 1972; Zeitlyn & Connell, 2003).

Notable people

Politics

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 Jalingo. [26]

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 the state 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. [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adamawa State</span> State of Nigeria

Adamawa State is a state in the North-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered by Borno to the northwest, Gombe to the west, and Taraba to the southwest while its eastern border forms part of the national border with Cameroon. It takes its name from the historic emirate of Adamawa, with the emirate's old capital of Yola serving as the capital city of Adamawa State. The state was formed in 1991 when the former Gongola State was broken up into Adamawa and Taraba states. The state is one of the most heterogeneous in Nigeria, having over 100 indigenous ethnic groups.

Tiv is a Tivoid language spoken in some states in North Central Nigeria, with some speakers in Cameroon. It had over 5.2 million speakers in 2024. The largest population of Tiv speakers are found in Benue state in Nigeria. The language is also widely spoken in some Nigerian states namely, Plateau, Taraba, Nasarawa, Cross River, Adamawa, Kaduna, and Abuja. It is by far the largest of the Tivoid languages, a group of languages belonging to the Southern Bantoid languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jukun people (West Africa)</span> West African ethno-linguistic group

Jukun are an ethno-linguistic group or ethnic nation in West Africa. The Jukun are traditionally located in Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe States in Nigeria and parts of northwestern Cameroon. They are descendants of the people of Kwararafa. Most of the tribes in the north central of Nigeria trace their origin to the Jukun people and are related in one way or the other to the Jukuns. Until the coming of both Christianity and Islam, the Jukun people were followers of their own traditional religions. Most of the tribes, Alago, Agatu, Rendere, Goemai in Shendam, and others left Kwararafa when it disintegrated as a result of a power tussle. The Jukuns are divided into two major groups; the Jukun Wanu and Jukun Wapa. The Jukun Wanu are fishermen residing along the banks of the river Benue and Niger where they run through Taraba State, Benue State and Nasarawa State. The Wukari Federation, headed by the Aku Uka of Wukari, is now the main centre of the Jukun people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wukari</span> LGA and Town in Taraba State, Nigeria

Wukari is a Local Government Area in Taraba State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Wukari on the A4 highway. The Donga River flows through the area and the Benue River forms a boundary with Nasarawa State to the northwest. It has an area of 4,308 km2 and a population of 241,546 at the 2006 census. The postal code of the area is 670.

Takum is a Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is the town of Takum, it is created out of Wukari local government in June 1976. Takum borders the Republic of Cameroon in the south, Ussa Local Government to the west, Donga Local government to the north, District within Takum are Angwan Dutse, Angwa Abuja, Tikari, Fadama, Gahwetun, Akenten, Acha Nyim, Chanchanji (Peva), Sufa, Shimta, Kufi, Muji, Akenten, Lufu, Kashimbilla, Kpaasan, Likam, Bete, Malumshe, Jidu, Tampwa, Dumse, Nyayirim, Barki Lissa,Acha Sarka, Sabon Gida Yukuben etc.

The Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria (CRC-N) is a Christian church that was established in 1951 under the name "Ekklisiyar Kristi a Sudan (EKAS) Lardin "Benue" meaning, "The church of Christ in Sudan, Benue region", and known under its current name since 1976. It belongs to the Fellowship of Churches of Christ in Nigeria and the World Communion of Reformed Churches.

The Wukari Federation is a traditional state in Nigeria, a successor to the Kwararafa state of the Jukun people. The state is based in the town of Wukari in Taraba State, in the south of the Benue River basin. The ruler takes the title "Aku Uka".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuteb people</span> West African ethnic group

Genesis sanda from Takum LGA taraba state

The Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station is a 3,050 MW hydroelectric power project under development in Nigeria. When completed, it will be the largest power-generating installation in the country, and one of the largest hydroelectric power stations in Africa.

Kuvyon II was the 27th Aku Uka of Kwararafa and 13th since the founding of the Wukari Federation, a Jukun tradition state in Middle Belt, Nigeria. He is also the chairman, Taraba State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chancellor, Federal University Dutse. He died on October 10, 2021, at the age of 84.

The 2023 Taraba State gubernatorial election will take place on 18 March 2023, to elect the governor of Taraba State, concurrent with elections to the Taraba State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly. The election will be held two weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections. Incumbent PDP Governor Darius Ishaku is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term.

The Nwonyo Fishing Festival is a festival celebrated by the Ibi people in Taraba State, Nigeria. The lake is located 5 kilometres North of Ibi community, it is an annually celebrated festival where Ibi and its neighboring community comes together to fish and re-unite. The lake is said to be the largest in west Africa as it run 15 kilometres to the Benue River. The name Nwonyo means Hide-out for huge and dangerous aquatic Animals such as Crocodiles, Snakes, Hippopotamus and many more.

The 1999 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Taraba State was held on February 20, 1999, to elect members of the House of Representatives to represent Taraba State, Nigeria.

The 2003 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Taraba State was held on April 12, 2003, to elect members of the House of Representatives to represent Taraba State, Nigeria.

The 2007 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Taraba State was held on April 21, 2007, to elect members of the House of Representatives to represent Taraba State, Nigeria.

The 2011 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Taraba State was held on April 9, 2011, to elect members of the House of Representatives to represent Taraba State, Nigeria.

The 2015 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Taraba State was held on March 28, 2015, to elect members of the House of Representatives to represent Taraba State, Nigeria.

The Kashimbila Hydroelectric Power Station, also Kashimbilla Hydroelectric Power Station is a 40 MW hydroelectric power station across the Katsina-Ala River in Nigeria. Originally intended to be an 18 megawatt installation, the dam and power station were re-configured to a 40 MW power station and the dam reservoir expanded from 200Mm3 to 500Mm3. The energy generated here is distributed within Taraba State, helping to meet an estimated 80 percent of households and businesses, as of 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Nigerian presidential election in Taraba State</span>

The 2023 Nigerian presidential election in Taraba 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Taraba State</span> 2023 Senate elections in Taraba

The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Taraba State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Taraba State, one from each of the state's three senatorial districts. The elections will coincide 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.

References

  1. ↑ "2006 PHC Priority Tables – NATIONAL POPULATION COMMISSION". population.gov.ng. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  2. ↑ "Taraba State: Subdivision". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  3. 1 2 Okeowo, Gabriel; Fatoba, Iyanuoluwa, eds. (13 October 2022). "State of States 2022 Edition" (PDF). Budgit.org. BudgIT. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  5. ↑ Fay, Robert (7 April 2005), "Niger River", African American Studies Center, Oxford University Press, ISBN   978-0-19-530173-1 , retrieved 11 July 2024
  6. ↑ "Worlddata".
  7. ↑ "Tcktcktck.org".
  8. ↑ Mkom, John (25 April 2023). "Flood Submerges 300 Houses In Taraba" . Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  9. ↑ "Flood: Taraba Govt issues alert to 6 LGAs". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  10. ↑ Mkom, John (16 October 2022). "Mosquitoes: Patients Berate Taraba Specialist Hospital Over Poor Environmental Sanitation" . Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  11. 1 2 "Nigeria". Ethnologue (22 ed.). Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  12. ↑ "Federal University Wukari Convocation: Buhari Tasks Graduates On Innovation – Independent Newspaper Nigeria". independent.ng. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  13. ↑ Daniels, Ajiri (31 July 2022). "Taraba varsity to establish model ranch – VC". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  14. ↑ admin (13 March 2017). "Kwararafa University, Wukari, Steps Out". Intervention. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  15. ↑ Edon, Aboki; Abubakar, Kara H.; Ashindo, Zubairu E. (1 December 2023). "Analysis of Financial Profitability of Tomato Growers in Taraba State, Nigeria". AKSU Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences. 7 (3): 25–36. doi:10.61090/aksuja.2023.015. ISSN   2651-5679.
  16. ↑ "About". TARABA STATE GOVERNMENT. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  17. ↑ "Rotational grazing meets technology on Mambilla Plateau". Earth Journalism Network. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  18. ↑ Reporters, Our (7 February 2024). "FG, W'Bank empowers 5,000 Taraba, A'Ibom farmers". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  19. ↑ "Taraba – Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid landscapes (ACReSAL) project". 17 May 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  20. ↑ "Jobs in Taraba State" . Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  21. ↑ "Natural Resources Natural Resources Available in Taraba State". TARABA STATE GOVERNMENT. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  22. ↑ Hunkuyi, Magaji (29 October 2022). "How groundnut boosts economy of Taraba town". Daily Trust. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  23. ↑ "The Kuteb People - The Kuteb People". Archived from the original on 9 June 2013.
  24. ↑ "Taraba governor's wife gets award for empowering youths | The Nation Newspaper". 6 June 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  25. ↑ Online, Tribune (25 November 2022). "Appeal Court affirms Kefas as Taraba PDP governorship candidate". Tribune Online. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  26. ↑ Oguntola, Tunde (27 September 2022). "2023: Next President, Govs Must Get Two-thirds Spread, Says INEC" . Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  27. ↑ Oguntola, Tunde (27 September 2022). "2023: Next President, Govs Must Get Two-thirds Spread, Says INEC" . Retrieved 24 February 2023.
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