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 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, 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.[8]
Climate
The climate of Taraba state is marked by an annual average temperature of 33°C, with a notable high degree of coldness in January and an increased rainfall in August.[9] The percentage of rainfall in Taraba state is 40.35% with 54.98% of relative humidity. The state is usually very warm in March and April with an avergae temperature of 40.44°C, and has an average wind of 8.84km/h.[10]
Flood
In April 2023, many homes and commercial buildings in Taraba State were affected by flooding, including those in the suburbs.[11][12]
Taraba State consists of sixteen (16) Local Government Areas (LGAs), which are governed by elected chairmen. The local government areas are listed as follows:
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.[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 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.[14]
Other languages spoken in Taraba State are Akum, Bukwen, Esimbi, Fali of Baissa, Jiba, Njerep, Tha, Yandang, Yotti, Ywom.[16]
Demography
The state's main ethnic groups are the Fulani, Mumuye, Mambilla, Jukun, Kuteb, Karimjo Wurkun, Tiv, Yandang, Ndola, Ichen, Jenjo, Tigon, and Jibu. The northern part is mainly dominated by the Wurkun, Fulani, Mumuye, and Sho. The southern part is dominated by the Jukun, Tiv, Chamba, Kuteb, and Ichen. The central region is mainly occupied by the Fulani, Mambilla, Ndola, Tigon, Jibu, Wurbo, and Daka people.
Education
Taraba State has many schools and education centers.
a stretch of A8 south from Burtol 166km to Gembu, unconnected to 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 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.[23] Communities living on the banks of River Benue, River Taraba, River Donga and River 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.[24][25]
Natural resources
Taraba state has abundant natural resources for industrial and commercial use, including:[26]
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, are 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,[28] 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, Mambila, Karimjo, Wurkums, Jenjo, Jukun, Ichen, Tiv, Kaka, Pena, Kambu, Kodei, Wawa, Vute, Fulani, Hausa and Ndola.
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).
Gallery
Cijin Lake in GembuTransportation In river Lamido, Taraba State
Haruna Manu - Senator Representing Taraba Central, Former Deputy Governor, Former Member House of Representative, Representing 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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