Nasarawa State is inhabited by various ethnic groups, including the Koro and Yeskwa in the far northwest; the Kofyar in the far northeast; the Eggon, Gwandara, Mada, Buh, Ninzo, and Nungu in the north; the Alago, Goemai, and Megili in the east; Eloyi (Ajiri/Afo) in the south; the Tiv in the southeast; the Idoma in southwest; and the Gade and Gbagyi in the west while the Hausa and Fulani live throughout the state. Nasarawa is also religiously diverse as about 61% of the state's population are Muslims with the remaining 39% being Christian and followers of traditional ethnic religions.[8][9]
In the pre-colonial period, the area that is now Nasarawa State was split up between various states with some states being tiny and village-based as others were part of larger empires until the early 1800s when the Fulani jihad annexed the region and placed the area under the Sokoto Caliphate as the vassal states of Keffi, Lafia, and Nassarawa. In the 1890s and 1900s, British expeditions occupied the area and incorporated it into the Northern Nigeria Protectorate. The protectorate later merged into British Nigeria in 1914 before becoming independent as Nigeria in 1960. Originally, modern-day Nasarawa State was a part of the post-independence Northern Region until 1967 when the region was split and the area became part of the Benue-Plateau State. After Benue-Plateau was split in 1976, what is now Nasarawa State became a part of the new Plateau State until 1996 when western Plateau was broken off to form the new Nasarawa State.
Nasarawa was established on 1 October 1996 by the Abacha government, splitting it from the today neighboring Plateau State which previously had contained both their territories.[12]
Geography
Climate
Nasarawa has a Tropical wet and dry or savanna climate. The city's yearly temperature is 29.39 °C (84.9 °F) and it is -0.07% lower than Nigeria's averages. Nasarawa typically receives about 136.71 millimeters (5.38 inches) of precipitation and has 155.37 rainy days (42.57% of the time) annually.[13]
In Nasarawa, the dry season is humid and partially cloudy, and it is hot all year long. The wet season is oppressive and overcast. The average annual temperature ranges from 63 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, rarely falling below 57 or rising above 101.[14]
From January 29 to April 14, the hot season, with an average daily high temperature exceeding 93 °F, lasts for 2.5 months. Nasarawa's hottest month of the year is March, with an average high temperature of 95 °F and low temperature of 74 °F.[15]
The 3.7-month cool season, which runs from June 22 to October 13, has an average daily maximum temperature of less than 85 °F. Nasarawa experiences its coldest month of the year in December, with average lows of 64 °F and highs of 89 °F.[16][17]
Boundaries
Nasarawa State is bounded to the north by Kaduna State for 169 km (105 miles), to the east by the states of Taraba for 109 km and Plateau for 219 km (136 miles), to the south by the states of Benue for 231 km, (mostly across the Benue River) and Kogi across the Benue River for 83 km, and to the west by Kogi for 68 km and the Federal Capital Territory for 156 km.
Transport
Nasarawa has a network of roads within the state, which link all rural areas and major towns.
Nasarawa State had a total population of 1,869,377 residents as of 2006, making the state the second least populated state in Nigeria after Bayelsa State.[18]
Air Pollution
Particulate matter, a dangerous air pollutant that can lead to bronchitis, asthma attacks, and other serious lung conditions due to chemical interactions in the environment, poses a threat to Nasarawa.[19][20][21][22]
In Nasarawa State, there are 25 different ethnic groups. The major ones are Miligi (Koro), Alago, Mada, Gwandara, Kanuri, Hausa, Fulani, Gbagyi, Rindre,Buh, Afo, Eggon and Ebira[26]
Religion
The dominant religions in Nasarawa State are Islam and Christianity, although a certain amount of traditional religion is still practised.[26]
The Emir of Lafia, Sidi Dauda Bage, is the head of the Tijaniyya Sufi Order, and the 3rd highest Muslim leader in Nigeria.
About 11% Roman Catholic with 296,087 followers (2021) in the Diocese of Lafia (2000) with 15 parishes under Bishop David Ajang (2021), a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Abuja.
Agriculture is the mainstay of Nasarawa State's economy with the production of a variety of cash crops throughout the year. It also contains various minerals such as salt, baryte, and bauxite, which are mostly mined by artisanal miners.
These mineral resources are also found in Nasarawa State: Coal, Dolomite/Marble, coal, Sapphire, Talc, Quartz, Tantalite, Tourmaline, Mica, Chalcopyrite, Clay, Cassirite, Iron-Ore, Columbite, Galena and Feldspar[27][28]
Education
Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
The state has a College of Education in Akwanga,[29]Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa,[30] Federal College of Education (Technical) Keana, College of Agriculture in Lafia, Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic Lafia, Nasarawa State University[31] Faculty of Agriculture Lafia Campus, a newly established Federal University of Lafia,[32] Mewar International University at Masaka, Bingham University at Karu, Hill College of Education Gwanje Akwanga, NACAP polytechnic Akwanga, Command secondary school Lafia, Command secondary school Rinze, Vocational And Relevant technology board, and many primary and secondary schools including the Federal Government Girls College, Keana
Tourism
Nasarawa State is home to the Farin Ruwa Falls in Wamba Local Government area of the state. Farin Ruwa falls is one of the highest falls in Africa.[33]
The Salt Village in the Keana Local Government Area of the State produces naturally iodized salt from the lake located nearby. The town is also the cradle of Alago civilization, one of the major ethnic groups in the state.
Also notable is the Eggon hills of the Eggon people which is situated around Nasarawa Eggon. This was the hills which the Eggon people had settled and established as an ancestral heritage as well. Tourists love to go hiking on this beautiful and high hill overlooking the Nasarawa Eggon local government and surrounding areas.
Another tourist site in Nasarawa State is the Maloney Hill.[34]
Keffi Town from the top of Maloney HillSunset on Maloney Hill
Nigeria
