Benue State history, Benue State Local Government Areas and Senatorial Zones/ Districts in Benue State. The post also has Local Government Area that make each Benue State Senatorial Districts.
Benue State is one of the North central states in
Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in 2006 census. It is inhabited
predominantly by the Tiv, Idoma and Igede peoples, who speak Tiv, Idoma, and
Igede languages respectively. Its capital is Makurdi. Benue is a rich agricultural region; popularly
grown crops includes; sweet potatoes, cassava, soya bean, guinea corn, flax,
yams, sesame, rice, and groundnuts, Palm Tree.
Benue State is named after the Benue River and was
formed from the former Benue-Plateau State in 1976, along with Igala and some
part of Kwara State. In 1991 some areas of Benue state (mostly Igala area),
along with areas in Kwara State, were carved out to become part of the new Kogi
State. Igbo people are found in the boundary areas like the Obi, Oju etc.
Benue State as it exists today is a surviving legacy of an administrative entity which was carved out of the protectorate of northern Nigeria at the beginning of the twentieth century. The territory was initially known as Munshi Province until 1918 when the name of its dominant geographical feature, the ‘Benue River’ was adopted.
There are areas of low population density . such as
Guma, Gwer East, Ohimini, Katsina-Ala, Apa, Logo and Agatu, each with less than
seventy persons per km2, while Vandeikya, Okpokwu, Ogbadibo, Obi and Gboko have
densities ranging from 160 persons to 200 persons per 2 . Makurdi LGA has over
380 person per km2. The males are 49.8 percent of the total population while
females constitute 50.2 per cent.
Benue State region was depleted of its human
population during the slave trade. It is largely rural, with scattered
settlements mainly in tiny compounds or homesteads, whose population range from
630 people, most of whom are farmers.
Urbanization in Benue State did not predate the
colonial era. The few towns established during colonial rule remained very
small(less than 30,000 people) up to the creation of Benue State in 1976.
GEOLOGY
AND ENVIRONMENT
Benue State lies within the lower river Benue trough
in the middle belt region of Nigeria. Its geographic coordinates are longitude
7° 47′ and 10° 0′ East. Latitude 6° 25′ and 8° 8′ North; and shares boundaries
with five other states namely: Nasarawa State to the north, Taraba State to the
east, Cross-River State to the south, Enugu State to the south-west and Kogi
State to the west. The state also shares a common boundary with the Republic of
Cameroon on the south-east. Benue occupies a landmass of 34,059 square kilometers.
Benue State
lies within the AW climate and experiences two distinct seasons, the Wet season
and the Dry 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 21 – 37 degrees Celsius in the year.
The south-eastern part of the state adjoining the Obudu-Cameroun mountain
range, however, has a cooler climate similar to that of Plateau State.
Much of Benue State falls within the Benue Valley/trough which is believed to be structurally developed. During the Tertiary and possibly the Interglacial periods of the Quaternary glaciation, the Benue and Niger Valleys, otherwise known as the Niger/Benue trough, were transgressed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, marine sediments form the dominant surface geology of much of Benue State.
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
Kaolinite at Otukpo are being commercially exploited. Other mineral deposits
include Baryte, Gypsum, Feldspar, Wolframite, Kaolinite, mineral salts and
Gemstone etc.
Benue State is the nation’s acclaimed food basket
because of its rich agricultural produce which include Yam, Rice, Beans,
Cassava, Sweet-potato, Maize, Soybean, Sorghum, Millet, Sesame, cocoyam etc.
The state accounts for over 70% of Nigeria’s Soybean 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 types and species. The state thus possesses potential
for the development of viable forest and wildlife reserves.
RELIEF
AND DRAINAGE
The land is generally low lying (averaging 100m-250m) Government Areas that hilly terrain with appreciable local relief is encountered. Here, the terrain is characterized by steep slopes, deep incised valleys and generally rugged relief. Elsewhere, gradients average less than 4°. River Benue is the dominant geographical feature in the state. It is one of the few large rivers in Nigeria. The Katsina-Ala is the largest tributary, while the smaller rivers include Mkomon, Amile, Duru, Loko Konshisha, Kpa, Okpokwu, Mu, Be, Aya, Apa Ogede and Ombi. The flood plains which are characterized by extensive swamps and ponds are good for dry season irrigated farming.
Though Benue State has high drainage density many of
the streams are seasonal. Hence, there is an acute water shortage in the dry
season in Local Government Areas such as Guma, Okpokwu, Ogbadibo, Gwer West
(Naka, Nigeria) and Oju.
Benue State Cultures
The Benue State Government accords high respect to
traditional rulers in recognition of their role as custodians of culture and as
agents of development. Also, their roles in enhancing peace and order at the
grassroots level are also recognized. To enhance their contribution to the
affairs of the state, 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 with the Tor Tiv (Tiv
King) as chairman.
The two Area Councils are the Tiv Traditional
Council and the Idoma Traditional Council. The former has the Tor Tiv (Tiv
King) as chairman of all the traditional rulers from the Tiv dominant Local
Government Areas, while the latter has the Och’ Idoma (Idoma king) as the
chairman of all the traditional rulers from the Idoma dominant Local Government
Areas
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 Ogirinya among
others.
The lgede-Agba is a Yam Festival, marked every year
in September by the lgede people of Oju and Obi local government areas. Among
the Tiv, the Tiv Day, marriage ceremonies and dance competitions (e.g. Swange
dance) are often very colourful. Kwagh-hir is a very entertaining Tiv puppet
show.
Social life in Benue State is also enriched by the
availability of diverse recreational facilities. Apart from parks, beaches,
dancing and masquerades mentioned above, the big hotels in Makurdi, Gboko and
Otukpo are equipped with several indoor sporting facilities. There are golf
clubs, the Makurdi Club, Railway Club, Police Club and Air Force Club, where,
apart from the sale of drinks and snacks, various types of games are played.
There is a standard Arts Theatre, a modern Sports
Complex which includes the Aper Aku Stadium, which has provisions for such
games as tennis, basketball, volleyball and handball, an indoor sports hall and
Olympic size swimming pool in Makurdi. A Smaller stadia exist in Gboko (J. S.
Tarka Stadium), Katsina-Ala, Adikpo, Vandeikya and Otukpo. The BCC Lawn Tennis
tournament attracts players from all over the country. Benue State has three
teams in the professional soccer ranks, Lobi Stars F.C. in Division One, BCC
Lions FC in Division Two, Mark mentors as the basketball premier league team.
The town is divided by the River Benue into the
north and south banks, which are connected by two bridges: the railway bridge,
which was built in 1932, and the new dual carriage bridge commissioned in 1978.
Makurdi Airport has the Nigerian Airways and other
private airlines provide air links between Makurdi and the rest of the country.
The beaches of River Benue can be exploited to provide good sites for relaxation.
The river itself provides tourist opportunities for boating angling and
swimming. The Makurdi Moratorium that houses a variety of animals including
some rare species also serves as another feature of tourist attraction.
Benue towns can be categorized into three groups.
The first group consists of those with a population of 80,000 to 500,000
people. These include Makurdi, the State Capital, Gboko and Otukpo the
“headquarters” of the two dominant ethnic groups (125,944 and 88,958
people respectively). The second group comprises towns with a population of
between 20,000 and 50,000 people and includes Katsina-Ala, Zaki-Biam, Ukum ,
and Adikpo, Kwande. These are all local government headquarters. The third
category comprises towns with a population of 10,000 to 19,000 people and
includes Vandeikya, Lessel, lhugh, Naka, Adoka, Aliade, Okpoga, lgumale, Oju,
Utonkon, Ugbokolo, Wannune, Ugbokpo, Otukpa, Ugba and Korinya. Most of these
towns are headquarters of recently created Local Government Areas and/or
district headquarters or major market areas.
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. It can still be
developed because most of the modern techniques are not yet popular to 98% of
Nigeria. 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 indude 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.
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.
Local Government Areas in Benue State
The following are twenty six (26) Benue State Local Government Areas
Ado L.G A
Agatu L.G.A
Apa L.G.A
Buruku L.G A
Gboko L.G A
Guma L.G.A
Gwer Eat/West L.G.A
Gwer Eat/West L.G.A
Katsina-Ala L.G A
Konshisha L.G.A
Kwande L.G.A
List of Towns and Villages in Benue State
Logo L.G.A
Makurdi L.G.A
Markurdi
Obi/Oju L.G.A
Ogbadibo L.G A
Ohimin L.G.A
Oju L.G A
Okpokwu L.G.A
Otukpo
Oturkpo L.G A
Takar L.G.A
Ukum L.G A
Ushongo L.G.A
Vandeikya L.G.A
Benue State Senatorial Zones / Districts
Benue state have three (3) Senatorial Zones / Districts. They are Benue North West Senatorial Zone / District, Benue North East Senatorial Zone / District and Benue South Senatorial Zone / District. Below are the Senatorial Zones / Districts and the local government areas that made up the districts.
Benue North East Senatorial Zone / District
- Katsina-Ala Local Government Area
- Konshisha Local Government Area
- Kwande Local Government Area
- Logo Local Government Area
- Ukum Local Government Area
- Ushongo Local Government Area
- Vandeikya Local Government Area
Benue North West Senatorial Zone / District
- Buruku Local Government Area
- Gboko Local Government Area
- Guma Local Government Area
- Gwer East Local Government Area
- Gwer West Local Government Area
- Makurdi Local Government Area
- Tarka Local Government Area
Benue South Senatorial Zone / District
- Ado Local Government Area
- Agatu Local Government Area
- Apa Local Government Area
- Obi Local Government Area
- Ogbadibo Local Government Area
- Oju Local Government Area
- Ohimini Local Government Area
- Okpokwu Local Government Area
- Otukpo Local Government Area
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. Two major
highways connect the Eastern States to the North and Northeast. 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.[citation needed]
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 connects Makurdi, Otukpo,
Taraku, Utonkon and lgumale with the rest of the country. Altogether, about 180
km of rail line traverses the state.
Power supply
Electricity is not yet stable but industrialists use
private power plants.
Telecommunications
Benue has facilities for the GSM service companies
operating in the Country The state also has 4 radio stations 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.
ABDUL A
