Taraba | |
|---|---|
 Mambilla Plateau of Taraba State | |
| Nicknames: | |
 Location of Taraba State in Nigeria | |
| Coordinates:8°00′N10°30′E / 8.000°N 10.500°E /8.000; 10.500 | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| Date created | 27 August 1991 |
| Capital | Jalingo |
| Government | |
| • Body | Government of Taraba State |
| • Governor (List) | Agbu Kefas (PDP) |
| • Deputy Governor | Aminu Abdullahi 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 |
| • Density | 42.127/km2 (109.11/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | |
| • Year | 2021 |
| • 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 |
TarabaListenⓘ is astate in north-easternNigeria, named after theTaraba River, which traverses the southern part of the state. It is nicknamed "Nature's Gift to the Nation". The state capital isJalingo. It is home to a diverse population including about 80 distinct ethnicities and their languages.[5][6][7]
Taraba state was created out of the formerGongola state on 27 August 1991 by the military government of GeneralIbrahim Badamasi Babangida. The state is an amalgamation of three former divisions:Wukari, Mambilla, andMuri.
Taraba state is bordered on the west byNasarawa state andBenue state for 109 km, northwest byPlateau state for 202 km, north by theBauchi state for 54 km andGombe state for 58 km, northeast byAdamawa state for about 366 km and south byNorthwest Region inCameroon for about 525 km.
TheBenue,Donga, andTaraba are the main rivers in the state. They begin in the Cameroonian mountains, draining almost the entire length of the state on their way North, before heading west to link up with theNiger River.[8]
Taraba state has an annual averagetemperature of 33°C. It receives 100.64 millimeters (3.96 inches) ofrainfall a year, with increased rainfall around August,[9] and has an averagerelative humidity of 54.98%. The state is hottest in March and April with an average high of 40.44°C.[10]
In April 2023, many homes and commercial buildings in Taraba State were affected by flooding.[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:Ardo Kola,Bali,Donga,Gashaka,Gassol,Ibi,Jalingo,Karim Lamido,Kurmi,Lau,Sardauna,Takum,Ussa,Wukari,Yorro, andZing
The state government is led by a democratically elected governor and the state's House of Assembly. The capital city of the state is Jalingo.[13]
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 state and local government areas. If no candidate passes the threshold, a second round is held between the two candidates that received a plurality of votes in the most local government areas.[14]
Taraba State has severalhospitals andhealth care centers, including:
Languages of Taraba state, listed by LGA, include:[16]
| LGA | Languages |
|---|---|
| Ardo Kola | Fulfulde;Mumuye,Jibu (Jukun Kona), andHausa |
| 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 | FulfuldeDuguri; Dza,Tiv, Wanu |
| Jalingo | Fulfulde;Mumuye; Jibu (Jukun Kona), and Hausa |
| Karim Lamido | Fulfulde;Dadiya; Dza;Jiba;Sho (bandawa); 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, Bambuka, Jenjo, Karimjo, Gomu, Panya. |
| Kurmi | Ndoro;Ichen language; Tigun language;Abon;Bitare;Tiv. |
| Lau | Kunini;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.[16]
The state's primaryethnic groups are theJukun,Jenjo, Fulani,Mumuye,Mambilla,Kuteb,Karimjo Wurkun,Tiv,Yandang,Ndola, Ichen,Tigon, and Jibu. The northern part of the state is mostly Fulani, Mumuye, and Sho. The southern part of the state is primarily Jukun, Wurkum, Tiv, Chamba, Kuteb, and Ichen. The central region is mainly occupied by the Fulani, Mambilla, Ndola, Tigon, Jibu, Wurbo, and Daka people.
Taraba State has many schools and education centres. Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges include:
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The major occupation of the people of Taraba state isagriculture.Cash crops produced in the state includecoffee,tea,groundnuts andcotton.[24] Crops such asmaize,rice,sorghum,millet,cassava, andyam are also produced in commercial quantity.[25] In addition,cattle,sheep andgoats are reared in large numbers, especially on the Mambilla Plateau and along theBenue and Tarabavalleys.[26] Similarly, the people of Taraba state undertake otherlivestock production, such aspoultry production,rabbit breeding andpig 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.[27] Communities living on the banks of theBenue River, Taraba River, and Donga River engage in fishing all year round. Other occupational activities such as pottery, cloth-weaving, dyeing, mat-making, carving, embroidery, and blacksmithing are carried out in various parts of the state.[28][29]
Taraba state has abundantnatural resources for industrial and commercial use, including:[30]
The state government has made improvements to tourist attractions, such as the Mambilla Tourist Center, and Gumpti Park andgame reserve inGashaka. The Karimjo Abedahh festival and Nwunyu fishing festival inIbi are usually held in April each year, with activities such as canoe racing, a swimming competition, and cultural dances. Other festivals are the Purma of theChamba inDonga,Takum and Jibu culture dance inBali, Tagba of Acha People in Takum, Kuchecheb ofKutebs inTakum and Ussa,[32] Kati and Bol of the Mambilla, and a host of others.
The State encompasses part of the Mambilla Region, which is the Bantu cradle, and area occupied for approximately five millennia to date.[33]
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State capital:Jalingo | ||
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