Historical Background

Benue state was created on February 3, 1976. It was one of the seven new states created by the military administration headed by the late General Murtala Muhammed, which increased the number of states in the federation from twelve to nineteen.and we refer you, cheap vps server The state derived its name from the River Benue which is the second largest river in the country and the most outstanding geographic feature in the state.

At creation, the state comprised of three local governments in the Tiv-speaking areas, namely Gboko, Katsina-Ala, and Makurdi; one local government (Otukpo) in the Idoma-speaking areas and three local governments (Ankpa, Idah and Dekina) in the Igala-speaking areas, which were excised from Kwara state.

Today, however, with the creation of more states and local governments in 1991, the Igala-speaking local govrnments were excised to form part of the present day Kogi state. Presently, Benue state has twenty-three local governments, with the Tiv speaking area having fourteen while the Idoma-Igede area has nine local governements.

Location

The state’s geographic location in the country is quite unique: it lies roughly in the middle of the country and shares boundaries with six other states: Nassarawa to the North, Taraba to the East, Kogi and Enugu states to the West and Ebonyi and Cross-River states to the South.

It also shares an international boundary with the Republic of Cameroun on the South-East.
Benue state has a landmass of 33,955 square kilometers and lies between Latitudes 6.5° and 8.5° North and Longitudes 7.47° N and 10 East.

State Capital

Makurdi, the state capital was established in the early twenties and gained prominence in 1927 when it became the headquarters of the then Benue Province. Being a river port, it attracted the establishment of trading depots by companies such as UAC and John Holt Limited.

Its commercial status was further enhanced when the Railway Bridge was completed and opened in 1932. In 1976, the town became the capital of Benue State and presently serves also as the headquarters of Makurdi Local Government Area.

Climate and Vegetation

Based on Koppen’s Scheme of Classification, Benue State lies within the AW Climate and experiences two distinct seasons, the wet/rainy season and the dry/summer season. The rainy season lasts from April to October with annual rainfall in the range of 100-200mm. The dry season begins in November and ends in March. Temperatures fluctuate between 23 – 37 degrees Celsius during the year.

The south-eastern part of the state adjoining the Obudu-Cameroun mountain range, however, has a cooler climate similar to that of the Jos Plateau.

The vegetation of the State consists of rain forests which have tall trees, tall grasses and oil palm trees that occupy the state’s western and southern fringes while the Guinea savannah is found in the eastern and northern parts with mixed grasses and trees that are generally of average height.

Benue’s topography is mainly undulating plains with occasional elevations of between 1,500m and 3,000m above sea level. and we refer you, South Africa VPS Server The state’s main geological formations are sandy-loam shelf basement complex and alluvial plains. These together with its location in the transition belt between the north and south ecologies and a favourable rainfall pattern account for its support for a wide variety of crops.

The People

The state comprises of several ethnic groups: Tiv, Idoma, Igede, Etulo, Abakpa, Jukun, Hausa, Akweya and Nyifon. The Tiv are the dominant ethnic group, occupying 14 local government areas, while the Idoma and Igede occupy the remaining nine local government areas.

Most of the people are farmers while the inhabitants of the riverine areas engage in fishing as their primary or important secondary occupation. The people of the state are famous for their cheerful and hospitable disposition as well as rich cultural heritage.

Traditional and Chieftaincy Institutions

The Benue state government accords high respect for the traditional rulers in recognition of their role as custodians of culture and as agents of development. In order to enahnce their contribution to governance, government has established a three-tier traditional council system made up of local government area traditional councils, area traditional councils and the state council of chiefs.

The local government (area) traditional council is made up of district heads in a local government and is headed by a chairman who is a second class chief. The two area councils are the Tiv

Traditional council and the Idoma Traditional Council. The former is made up of all traditional rulers in the fourteen Tiv-speaking local government areas with the Tor-Tiv as the Chairman, while the latter is made up of nine Idoma/Igede-speaking local governments and has the Och’Idoma as the Chairman. The state council of Chiefs has the Tor-Tiv V, His Royal Majesty, Orchivirigh

Professor James Iorzua Ayatse as chairman with His Royal Majesty Och’Idoma IV, Agabaidu Elias Ikoyi Obekpa and all second class chiefs/chairmen of the local government traditional councils as members.

Mineral Resources

Benue State is blessed with abundant mineral resources. These resources are distributed in the Local Government Areas of the state. Of these mineral resources, only limestone at Tse-Kucha near Gboko and Kaolin at Otukpo are being commercially exploited.

Natural Resources

Benue State is the nations acclaimed Food Basket because of its rich agricultural produce which include yams, rice, beans, cassava, potatoes, maize, soya beans, sorghum, millet and cocoyam. The state also accounts for over 70% of Nigeria’s soya bean production.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, engaging over 75% of the state farming population. The State also boasts of one of the longest stretches of river systems in the country with great potential for a viable fishing industry, dry season farming through irrigation and for an inland water highway.

The vegetation of the southern parts of the state is characterized by forests, which yield trees for timber and provide a suitable habitat for rare animals. The state thus possesses potential for the development of viable forest and wildlife reserves.

Culture

Benue State possesses a rich and diverse cultural heritage which finds expression in colourful cloths, exotic masquerades, supplicated music and dances. Traditional dances from Benue State have won acclaim at national and international cultural festivals. The most popular of these dances include Ingyough, Ange, Anchanakupa, Swange and Girinya among others.

Infrastructure and transportation

The location of Benue State in the centre of the country plus the presence of bridges on two large rivers, the Benue River and Katsina-Ala River, make the state a major cross-roads centre. The present government has shown commitment to the construction of roads within the state capital Makurdi and other major roads leading in and out of the state. The roads are in an excellent condition.

Two Federal Highways connect the Eastern States to the North and Northeast.

  • A3 north from Enugu via Otukpo and Makurdi to Lafia, Nasarawa State.
  • A4 northeast from Benue State at Gakem to Taraba State near Kado as the Katsina Ala-Zaki Biam road.

Other major roads include:

  • Makurdi-Gboko road southeast via Yandev to Ugbema where the Katsina Ala Road continues southwest via Adikpo to Cross River State at Gakem,
  • Makurdi-Naka-Adoka-Ankpa-Okene road west,
  • Makurdi-Yandev-Katsina Ala-Wukari road east,
  • Makurdi North-Uda Road west to Nasarawa State at Utagudu,
  • Adoka-Weto Road north from Adoka across the Benue River by the two km Loko-Oweto Bridge (2022),
  • Gboko-Mbasere Road east from A3 at Aliade
  • Katsina Ala-Takum road east to Taraba State at Dogon Gawa.
  • The Federal government is also remodelling and expanding the Makurdi Airport to become the largest agricultural cargo airport in the country.

The rivers Benue and Katsina-Ala only need to be dredged and a modern river port built at Makurdi, Turan, Buruku and Katsina-Ala to transport goods all over the nation since the state is at the middle of the country. Ships are sighted very occasionally offloading cargo for Benue company at the Abinsi jetty.

The Eastern rail line north from Enugu across the Benue River by the Makurdi Rail Bridge (1932) to Nasarawa State connects Makurdi, Otukpo, Taraku, Utonkon and Igumale with the rest of the country. Altogether, about 180 km of rail line traverses the state.

Power supply

Electricity challenges in Benue are no different from every other region in Nigeria. Places like Makurdi, Otukpo and Gboko, as some examples, enjoy at least 60% of power supply. However, private industries have other sources of power supply as a contingency.

Telecommunications

Benue has facilities for the GSM service companies operating in the Country. The state also has at least 7 radio stations (Radio Benue, Joy FM, Harvest FM, Ashiwave FM, Sun Rays FM, Brothers’ FM and Speed FM) and 2 television stations.

Tourism and recreation

Benue State possesses immense tourism potentials which are yet to be exploited. Since some of the tourist attractions are best selected by the tourist, Benue State in her bid to develop tourism embarked on infrastructural development necessary for the overall well-being of the tourist. The options are still opened to foreign investors.

The programme of road development, hotels, postal, telephone and Email services, electricity, potable water, recreational facilities and the general hospitality of the people will eventually open up the state to tourists. An amusement park and Zoo have been developed at Makurdi. There is a wildlife park at lkwe where a conference hall and chalets have been built to serve tourists. Tourist attractions in the state may be grouped into natural scenic, historical monuments and festivals.

Natural Attractions in Benue State include hills and ranges such as Ikyogen, Abande, Ngokur, Mkar, Ushongo and Harga. There is a heavily wooded natural trench at Tse-Mker which is believed to be inhabited by dangerous creatures including Pythons. Gurgul is a waterfall on Katsina Ala River. The border stretch adjoining the Obudu/South Cameroon Plateau ranges features forests, dissected hills, Dykes, dozens of fast flowing streams and incised valleys. In the Dry season, the water level in both the Benue River and Katsina-Ala River falls, giving rise to sandy river beaches and clean shallow waters. The waters are used for recreational boating and swimming.

At Orokam in Ogbadibo Local government areas, occurs the Enumabia Warm Spring. At Epwa-Ibilla, Andi-Ibilla, Uchenyum-Ibilla, Okochi-Uwokwu, Irachi-Uwokwu, Ette-Uda-Uwokwu, Odepa-Uwokwu, Igbegi-Ipinu-Uwokwu, Edde-Ibilla-Uwokwu, and Ohuma-Uwokwu of Oju, are springs of clean water. There are masses of unusually tall trees in the deep valleys and on the pretty steep highlands, which are all however inhabited.

Historical monuments in the state include the Royal Niger Company Trading Stores at Makurdi and Gbileve near Katsina-Ala; the tombs of the first Dutch missionaries at Harga and Sai in Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas; the tombs of the legendary politician, Mr. J. S. Tarka and past three Tor Tiv in Gboko town; and the trench fortifications in Turan district of Kwande local government areas which were dug by the Tiv to ward off Chamba invasions in the 19th century.

At Utonkon, is a thick forest with tall giant trees, the centre of which used to serve as a slave trade market but is now the site of shrines and a periodic market. Swem is a shrine site at the foot of the Cameroon range in Kwande local government area from where the Tivs were said to have originated.

Education

Higher education institutions in Benue State include:

  • Akawe Torkula Polytechnic, ATP, Makurdi.
  • Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo
  • Benue State University, Makurdi
  • College of Education, Katsina-Ala
  • Joseph Sarwuan Tarka Uniniversity (JOSTUM), Makurdi
  • University of Mkar

Economy

Agricultural production

Agriculture forms the backbone of the Benue State economy, engaging more than 70 per cent of the working population. This has made Benue the major source of food production in the Nation. Experts say that it can still be developed because most of the modern techniques are not yet popular to majority of Nigerian farmers. Mechanization and plantation agriculture/agro-forestry are still at its infancy.

Farm inputs such as fertilizers, improved seed, insecticides and other foreign methods are being increasingly used. However, cost and availability is still a challenge. Important cash crops include soybeans, rice, peanuts, mango varieties, citrus, etc.

Other cash crops include palm oil, melon, African pear, chili pepper, tomatoes etc. Food crops include Yam, Cassava, Sweet potato, Beans, Maize, Millet, Guinea corn, Vegetables etc. There is very little irrigation agriculture and techniques.

Animal production includes: Cattle, Pork, Poultry and Goat but no dairy and dairy products yet.

The Zaki Ibiam International Yam Market is the biggest market for a single product in Nigeria.

Commerce and industry

Banking services are available as all the banks in Nigeria have branches in the state, with the Central Bank of Nigeria having its regional headquarters in Makurdi. Dangote Cement Company is a private company that operates within the state and provides a little employment to the people.

This is a rough estimated employment percentage in the state: 75% are farmers, 10% traders, 6% civil servants, 9% private.

Benue State has the capacity to support a wide range of industries using local agricultural and mineral resources although potentials are yet to be exploited. Private initiatives in commerce and industry, particularly by indigenes, is as also on a small scale and is limited to carpentry, shoe repairs and manufacturing, small scale rice mills, leather and plastic industries, weaving, printing, catering, block making, food processing, etc. Industry and commerce have been greatly retarded by the absence of capital funds, basic infrastructure and the frequent political changes.

Conclusion

Benue State, located in the North Central region of Nigeria, is known for its rich agricultural resources, diverse ethnic composition, and vibrant cultural heritage. Often referred to as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” the state plays a significant role in Nigeria’s food production, with crops like yam, rice, cassava, and soybeans being major outputs.

The state’s capital, Makurdi, serves as an administrative and economic hub, while its major ethnic groups, including the Tiv, Idoma, and Igede, contribute to a dynamic cultural landscape. Despite its economic potential, Benue faces challenges such as infrastructure deficits, security concerns, and economic diversification needs.

In conclusion, Benue State remains a crucial part of Nigeria’s socio-economic framework, offering agricultural wealth and cultural richness. With strategic development efforts, improved security, and investment in infrastructure, the state has the potential to thrive further and contribute even more to national development.