Makurdi

Last updated

Makurdi
LGA and State Capital
River Benue (in Makurdi With both Bridges).jpg
River Benue (in Makurdi with both bridges)
Nigeria location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Makurdi
Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 7°44′N8°30′E / 7.733°N 8.500°E / 7.733; 8.500
CountryFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
State Benue State
Area
  Total937.4 km2 (361.9 sq mi)
Population
 (2022) [1]
  Total433,700
  Density460/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (WAT)
Makurdi

Makurdi is the capital of Benue State, located in central Nigeria, [2] and part of the Middle Belt region of central Nigeria. The city is situated on the south bank of the Benue River. In 2016, Makurdi and the surrounding areas had an estimated population of 365,000. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

History

Makurdi was established in 1927. In 1976, it became the capital of Benue State. [3]

This city was one of the sites of the End SARS protests in 2020. [6]

Demographics

The major ethnic groups are the Tiv, [7] Idoma, Igede, Jukun, Agatu, Etulo, Alago, Igbo.

Education

Makurdi is home to Benue State University; University of Agriculture, Makurdi; Nigeria Army School Of Military Engineering, Makurdi; and Akawe Torkula Polytechnic, [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] ATP, Makurdi.

There are secondary schools located in Makurdi including Government Secondary School, North-Bank, Special Science Senior Secondary School, Tilley Gyado College, North-Bank, [13] Mount Saint Gabriel Secondary School, Government College, and Government Girls' Secondary School.

Climate

Climate data for Makurdi (1961–1990)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)38.5
(101.3)
39.0
(102.2)
39.5
(103.1)
39.0
(102.2)
37.0
(98.6)
34.0
(93.2)
33.0
(91.4)
32.0
(89.6)
33.0
(91.4)
34.0
(93.2)
35.0
(95.0)
36.0
(96.8)
39.5
(103.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)34.8
(94.6)
36.9
(98.4)
37.0
(98.6)
35.0
(95.0)
32.6
(90.7)
31.2
(88.2)
30.0
(86.0)
30.0
(86.0)
30.7
(87.3)
31.7
(89.1)
33.5
(92.3)
34.2
(93.6)
33.1
(91.6)
Daily mean °C (°F)26.4
(79.5)
28.5
(83.3)
30.0
(86.0)
29.2
(84.6)
27.6
(81.7)
26.4
(79.5)
25.9
(78.6)
25.8
(78.4)
26.0
(78.8)
26.4
(79.5)
26.8
(80.2)
25.2
(77.4)
27.1
(80.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)18.4
(65.1)
22.0
(71.6)
24.7
(76.5)
25.0
(77.0)
23.6
(74.5)
22.9
(73.2)
22.5
(72.5)
22.6
(72.7)
22.3
(72.1)
22.5
(72.5)
20.3
(68.5)
17.6
(63.7)
22.0
(71.6)
Record low °C (°F)10.0
(50.0)
12.0
(53.6)
15.5
(59.9)
20.0
(68.0)
18.0
(64.4)
18.5
(65.3)
19.5
(67.1)
19.5
(67.1)
18.5
(65.3)
19.5
(67.1)
13.0
(55.4)
8.5
(47.3)
8.5
(47.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)3.7
(0.15)
2.0
(0.08)
30.7
(1.21)
91.3
(3.59)
166.2
(6.54)
182.9
(7.20)
212.4
(8.36)
217.8
(8.57)
218.1
(8.59)
109.1
(4.30)
1.8
(0.07)
1.0
(0.04)
1,237
(48.70)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)0.30.31.75.68.910.312.913.313.37.80.50.275.1
Average relative humidity (%) (at 15:00 LST)26.326.837.050.361.566.669.971.368.663.345.131.951.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours 217.0212.8210.8210.0213.9183.0151.9145.7162.0201.5240.0232.52,381.1
Mean daily sunshine hours 7.07.66.87.06.96.14.94.75.46.58.07.56.5
Source 1: NOAA [14]
Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes and mean temperature) [15]

Transport

Makurdi is located on the banks of Benue River, a major tributary of the Niger River.

It is on the main narrow gauge railway line running north from Port Harcourt. There are regular bus services linking Makurdi to neighbouring towns.

Until a road rail bridge was built in 1932, a train ferry was used to cross the Benue river.

There is an airport in Makurdi.

Military

Makurdi contains the base for the Nigerian Air Force's CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder, MiG 21 and SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft squadrons and the Nigeria Army's 72 Special Forces (SF) Battalion [16]

Agriculture

Benue State is predominantly an agricultural area specialising in cash crops and subsistence crops.

Air Pollution

Makurdi's air is contaminated with particulate matter, which can enter the deepest parts of the lung and pose a significant health risk, including increased asthma attacks, bronchitis, and other lung diseases. [17] [18] [19]

Resources

Limestone and marble can be found in the area.

See also

Related Research Articles

Yola, meaning 'Great Plain' or 'Vast Plain Land', is a large city, capital city and administrative centre of Adamawa State, Nigeria. It is located on the Benue River, and it has a population of over 336,648 (2010). Yola is split into two parts. The old town of Yola where the Lamido resides is the traditional city and the new city of Jimeta is the administrative and commercial centre. They are generally referred to as Yola.

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

Benue State is one of the North Central states in Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in 2006 census. The state was created in 1976 among the seven states created at that time. The state derives its name from the Benue River which is the second largest river in Nigeria after the River Niger. The state borders Nasarawa State to the North; Taraba State to the East; Kogi State to the West; Enugu State to the South-West; Ebonyi and Cross-Rivers State to the South; and has an international border with Cameroon to the South-East. It is inhabited predominantly by the Tiv, Idoma, and Igede. Minority ethnic groups in Benue are Etulo, Igbo, Jukun peoples etc. Its capital is Makurdi. Benue is a rich agricultural region; popularly grown crops include: oranges, mangoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, soya bean, guinea corn, flax, yams, sesame, rice, groundnuts, and Palm tree.

Tiv is a Tivoid language spoken in some states in North Central Nigeria, with some speakers in Cameroon. It had over 4.6 million speakers in 2020. 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">Tiv people</span> West African ethnic group

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Akperan Orshi Polytechnic, Yandev is a tertiary institution in Yandev near Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria. The college dates back to 1926 when the British colonial government established a farm training center at Yandev, then in Tiv province of the Northern Region. In 1973, the Benue-Plateau State government upgraded the center to a school of Agriculture with an initial enrollment of 23 students. In 1983, the Department of Agriculture of the Murtala College of Arts, Science and Technology, Makurdi was merged with the school. In April 1991, the school was renamed the Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture, Yandev after Dr. James Akperan Orshi, the late monarch of the Tiv nation. The college now has over 2,000 students on a campus that covers 231 hectares.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aper Aku</span> Nigerian politician

Aper Aku (1938–1988) was elected governor of Benue State, Nigeria in October 1979 and reelected in October 1983, he left office after the military coup in December 1983 which General Mohammadu Buhari came to power.

Lt. Colonel Joseph Iorshagher Akaagerger was the Military Administrator of Katsina State, Nigeria from August 1998 to 29 May 1999. After the return to democracy, in April 2007 he was elected to the Senate representing Benue North East.

Patrick Abba Moro is a Nigerian educational administrator, politician and former Minister of the Federal Ministry Of Interior. He is currently the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi. In 2019, he was elected into the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria replacing David Mark, a two-term senate president and one of the longest serving Senators in Nigeria.

James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, Tor Tiv V from Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State in central Nigeria is a Nigerian academic who is the Paramount Ruler/King of Tiv Nation and president, Tiv Area Traditional Council and chairman, Benue State council of Chiefs. He previously served as the vice chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi and the pioneer vice chancellor of the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma respectively before succeeding Alfred Akawe Torkula, Tor Tiv IV, who ruled from 1991 until his death on 22 November 2015.

Professor Jerry Agada was a Nigerian educationist, scholar, author, Chairman Benue State Civil Service Commission, former president of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), the first Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, in Central Nigeria, the vice-chairman of Fidei Polytechnic, Gboko and former minister of state for Education of the Federal republic of Nigeria. He is known for writings with the publication of his first book, The Magic year – poetry in prose and rhymes in 1996 and has since followed that book up with another one in 1998, The Secret Deal, which is a collection of stories, Rage and Tears, Orokam: A Roadmap for Socio-Economic & Political Advancement, Holy Land: Encounters and Symbolism and Web of Convictions. He's a multi award-winning writer, he bagged the award of the Academic Person of the year 2016 by Idoma Governor Support Group and the best author by Association of Nigerian Authors.

Titus Uba is Nigerian politician who is currently serving as speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly since August 2018. Uba represents Kyan constituency in the state assembly. His emergence as the speaker of the house followed a vote of no confidence and the subsequent impeachment of the former speaker of the assembly, Terkimbi Ikyange. In 2019, Uba was re-elected speaker for the 9th Benue State House of Assembly.

Akawe Torkula Polytechnic (ATP) is a polytechnic in Makurdi, Benue State, North Central Nigeria. It came into being when Akawe Torkula College of Advanced and Professional Studies, ATCAPS, was upgraded to a polytechnic by the Benue State Executive Council in January 2020.

References

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  3. 1 2 "Makurdi | Location, Facts, & Population". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
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  5. "The World Gazetteer". Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2007.
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  7. Bergsma, Harold M. (November 2015). "PROLOGUE: HISTORY OF THE TIV" . Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  8. III, Editorial (2020-01-21). "Benue upgrades agric, remedial colleges to polytechnics". Blueprint Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  9. "Ortom signs bills for conversion of two colleges to polytechnics". Businessday NG. 2020-06-16. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  10. "Benue govt converts institutions to Polytechnic". Tribune Online. 2020-01-20. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  11. Nseyen, Nsikak (2020-01-20). "Benue govt upgrades State Colleges of Education to Polytechnics". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  12. "Benue recruits 2,000 staff for five tertiary institutions". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2021-06-04. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  13. "2013 Programs – Educational Scholarships". Tanimu Foundation. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
  14. "Makurdi Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  15. "Klimatafel von Makurdi / Nigeria" (PDF). Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  16. "72 Special Forces (SF) Battalion Archives". Nigerian Army | Official Website. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
  17. "Air Quality & Pollen Forecast for Makurdi". meteoblue. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  18. "Makurdi Air Quality Index (AQI) and Nigeria Air Pollution | IQAir". www.iqair.com. 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  19. "Makurdi, Nigeria Air Quality & Pollen | Weather Underground". www.wunderground.com. Retrieved 2023-09-23.