Taraba State

Taraba State is a state in North Eastern Nigeria, named after the Taraba River, which traverses the Southern part of the state. Taraba State capital is Jalingo. Its slogan is Nature's Gift to the Nation. The main ethnic groups are the Fulbe or Fulani, Mumuye, Mambilla, Jukun, Tiv, Kuteb, Wurkun, Yandang, Ndola, Itchen, Jenjo, Tigun, Jibu. The northern part is mainly dominated by the Fulbe or Fulani Mumuye, Wurkuns, Yandang, Jenjo, and Kona. The southern parts are dominated by the Jukun, Chamba, Tiv, Kuteb and Ichen.The central region is mainly occupied by Fulbe or Fulani Mambilla, Ndola, Tigun, Jibu, Wurbo and Daka peoples. There are 77 distinct ethnic groups, and their languages in the State.

Taraba
Taraba
State
Mambilla Plateau of Taraba State
Mambilla Plateau of Taraba State
Seal of Taraba State
Seal
Nicknames: 
Nature's Gift to the Nation (French: Le cadeau de la nature à la nation)
Location of Taraba State in Nigeria
Location of Taraba State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 8°00′N 10°30′E
Country Nigeria
Date created27 August 1991
CapitalJalingo
Government
 • BodyGovernment of Taraba State
 • Governor
(List)		Agbu Kefas (PDP)
 • Deputy GovernorAminu Alkali (PDP)
 • LegislatureTaraba State House of Assembly
 • SenatorsC: Haruna Manu (PDP)
N: Shuaibu Isa Lau (PDP)
S: David Jimkuta (APC)
 • RepresentativesList
Area
 • Total54,473 km2 (21,032 sq mi)
 • Rank3rd of 36
Population
 (2006 census)
 • Total2,294,800[1]
 • Rank30th of 36
GDP (PPP)
 • Year2021
 • Total$13.27 billion[2]
 • Per capita$3,720[2]
Time zoneUTC+01 (WAT)
postal code
660001
ISO 3166 codeNG-TA
HDI (2018)0.501[3]
low · 26th of 37
Websitetarabastate.gov.ng

History

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 amalgam of three former Divisions - Wukari, Mambilla and Muri Divisions.

Geography
Donga River, Taraba state

Taraba state is bounded in the west by Nasarawa state and Benue state (for 109 km), northwest by Plateau statefor 202 km (126 miles), north by Bauchi state for 54 km and Gombe state for 58 km, northeast by Adamawa state for about 366 km and south by Northwest Region in Cameroon for about 525 km.

The Benue, Donga, Taraba and Ibi are the main rivers in the state. They rise from the Cameroonian mountains, straining almost the entire length of the state in the North and South directions to link up with the River Niger.

Climate

The climate of Taraba state is marked by an annual average temperature of 33°C but high level of cold in January and an increased rainfall in August.[4] The percentage of rainfall in Taraba state is 40.35% with 54.98% relative humidity. The state is usually very warm in March with 40.44°C, and an average wind of 8.84km/h.[5]

Flood

Many homes and commercial buildings in Taraba are affected by flooding, including those in the suburb.[6][7]

Healthcare

Taraba State has several hospitals and health care centers, some of them are:

  • Courage Hospital
  • Federal Medical Center (FMC)
  • Gateway Hospital
  • General Hospital, Bali
  • Sauki Hospital and Maternity
  • Totus Hospital and Maternity
  • Albert Healthcare Company
  • Taraba Specialist Hospital[8]
  • kwararafa Hospital and maternity
  • Federal Polythecnic Bali Medical Center
  • First Referral Hospital
  • Biyama Hospital

Local government areas
See also: List of villages in Taraba State

Taraba State consists of sixteen (16) Local Government Areas (or LGAs), which are governed by elected chairmen. The local government areas are listed as follows:

Languages

Languages of Taraba state listed by LGA include:[9]

LGALanguages
ArdokolaFulfulde; Mumuye, Jibu (Jukun Kona), and Hausa
BaliFulfulde; Ichen Language Fam; Gbaya, Northwest; Jibu; Jukun Takum; Kam; Mumuye; Ndoola; Chamba Dakka; chamba leko; Tiv; Hausa.
DongaIchen Language, Ekpan, Chamba Leko, Tiv.
GashakaFulfulde, Jibu, Ndola, Chamba Daka; Yamba Tiv, and Hausa.
GassolFulfulde, Wapan, Tiv
IbiFulfulde Duguri; Dza, Tiv, Wanu
JalingoFufulde; Mumuye; Jibu (Jukun Kona), and Hausa
Karim LamidoFulfulde; Dadiya; Dza; Jiba; 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.
KurmiNdoro; Ichen language; Tigun language; Abon; Bitare.
LauFufulde; Dza; Loo; Yandang, Laka and Hausa.
SardaunaFulfulde
TakumMashi; Bete; Ichen Language; Jukun Takum; Kapya; Kpan; Kpati; Kuteb; Lufu; Acha language Acha; Tiv; Yukuben
UssaKuteb
WukariJukun, Ichen Language; Ekpan; Kpati; Kulung; Tarok; Tiv; Wapan
YorroFulfulde; Mumuye, Hausa
ZingMumuye, Nyong; Rang; Yandang

Other languages spoken in Taraba State are Akum, Bukwen, Esimbi, Fali of Baissa, Jiba, Njerep, Tha, Yandang, Yotti, Ywom.[9]

Education

Taraba State has many schools and education centers.

Further information: List of Tertiary Institutions in Taraba State

Universities

Agriculture

The major occupation of the people of Taraba state is agriculture. Cash crops produced in the state include coffee, tea, groundnuts and cotton. Crops such as maize, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava, and yam are also produced in commercial quantity.[13] In addition, cattle, sheep and goats are reared in large numbers, especially on the Mambilla Plateau, and along the Benue and Taraba valleys. Similarly, the people of Taraba state undertake other livestock production activities like poultry production, rabbit breeding and pig farming in fairly large scale. Communities living on the banks of River Benue, River Taraba, River Donga and 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.[14]

Natural resources

Taraba state has abundant natural resources for industrial and commercial use, these include:[15]

Mineral raw materials

Agro-raw materials

Culture

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, all this is 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,[17] 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.

Mambilla Tribe of Taraba State

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).

  • Gashaka-Gumpti-National-Park-Taraba-State
    Transportation In river Lamido, Taraba State
  • A Mountain in Mambilla
    A Mountain in Mambilla
  • The Mambilla Plateau
    The Mambilla Plateau
  • Donga River, Mambilla Plateau, Taraba State
    Donga River, Mambilla Plateau, Taraba State
  • Loop traditional dancers from Taraba State
    Loop traditional dancers from Taraba State
  • Gwagir Lake (SGEN or Tunga) in Mambilla, Taraba State
    Gwagir Lake (SGEN or Tunga) in Mambilla, Taraba State
  • Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve, Mambilla Plateau, 2012
    Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve, Mambilla Plateau, 2012
  • Gashaka-Gumti National Park Taraba State
    Gashaka-Gumti National Park Taraba State

Notable people

Politics

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.[20]

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 the plurality of votes and over 25% of votes in at least two-third of the state local government areas. If no candidate passes 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.[21]

References
  1. "2006 PHC Priority Tables – NATIONAL POPULATION COMMISSION". population.gov.ng. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  2. Okeowo, Gabriel; Fatoba, Iyanuoluwa, eds. (13 October 2022). "State of States 2022 Edition" (PDF). Budgit.org. BudgIT. Retrieved 7 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  4. "Worlddata".
  5. "Tcktcktck.org".
  6. Mkom, John (25 April 2023). "Flood Submerges 300 Houses In Taraba". Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  7. Nigeria, Guardian (21 August 2023). "Flood: Taraba Govt issues alert to 6 LGAs". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  8. Mkom, John (16 October 2022). "Mosquitoes: Patients Berate Taraba Specialist Hospital Over Poor Environmental Sanitation". Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  9. "Nigeria". Ethnologue (22 ed.). Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  10. "Federal University Wukari Convocation: Buhari Tasks Graduates On Innovation – Independent Newspaper Nigeria". independent.ng. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  11. Daniels, Ajiri (31 July 2022). "Taraba varsity to establish model ranch – VC". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  12. admin (13 March 2017). "Kwararafa University, Wukari, Steps Out". Intervention. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  13. "About". TARABA STATE GOVERNMENT. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  14. "Jobs in Taraba State". Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  15. "Natural Resources Natural Resources Available in Taraba State". TARABA STATE GOVERNMENT. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  16. Hunkuyi, Magaji (29 October 2022). "How groundnut boosts economy of Taraba town". Daily Trust. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  17. "The Kuteb People - The Kuteb People". Archived from the original on 9 June 2013.
  18. "Taraba governor's wife gets award for empowering youths | The Nation Newspaper". 6 June 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  19. Online, Tribune (25 November 2022). "Appeal Court affirms Kefas as Taraba PDP governorship candidate". Tribune Online. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  20. Oguntola, Tunde (27 September 2022). "2023: Next President, Govs Must Get Two-thirds Spread, Says INEC". Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  21. Oguntola, Tunde (27 September 2022). "2023: Next President, Govs Must Get Two-thirds Spread, Says INEC". Retrieved 24 February 2023.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Taraba State.
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