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Benue State | |
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Nicknames: | |
![]() Location of Benue State in Nigeria | |
Coordinates: 7°20′N 8°45′E / 7.333°N 8.750°E | |
Country | Nigeria |
Date created | 3 February 1976 |
Capital | Makurdi |
Government | |
• Body | Government of Benue State |
• Governor | Hyacinth Iormem Alia (APC) |
• Deputy Governor | Samuel Ode (APC) |
• Legislature | Benue State House of Assembly |
• Senators | NE: Hon. Emmanuel Udende (APC) NW: Titus Zam (APC) S: Patrick Abba Moro (PDP) |
• Representatives | List |
Area | |
• Total | 34,059 km2 (13,150 sq mi) |
• Rank | 11th of 36 |
Population (2006 Census) | |
• Total | 4,253,641[1] |
• Estimate (2022) | 6,141,300[2] |
• Rank | 7th of 36 |
GDP (PPP) | |
• Year | 2021 (estimate) |
• Total | $27.64 billion[3] |
• Per capita | $4,141[3] |
Time zone | UTC+01 (WAT) |
Dialing Code | +234 |
ISO 3166 code | NG-BE |
HDI (2021) | 0.604[4] medium · 18th of 37 |
Benue State is one of the North Central states in Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in the 2006 census. The state was created in 1976 and was among the seven states created at that time.[5] The state derives its name from the Benue River initially called Ber-nor, a compound word in Tiv language which means river or lake of hippopotamus (ber meaning river or lake, while nor is the name for hippopotamus) the name Ber-nor was corrupted to BENUE by colonial masters, the river is the second largest river in Nigeria after the River Niger.[6] The state borders Nasarawa State to the North; Taraba State to the East; Kogi State to the West; Enugu State to the South-West; Ebonyi and Cross-Rivers State to the South; and has an international border with Cameroon to the South-East.[7] It is inhabited predominantly by the Tiv, Idoma and Igede people. Minority ethnic groups in Benue are Etulo, Igbo and Jukun people etc. Its capital is Makurdi.[8] Benue is a rich agricultural region; common crops cultivated in the state include oranges, yams, mangoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, soya bean, guinea corn, flax, sesame, rice, groundnuts and palm trees.
Benue State is a legacy of an administrative entity that 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.[9]
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.[10] In 1991, some areas of Benue state (mostly the Igala-speaking area), along with areas in Kwara State, were clubbed together to form the new Kogi State. Igbo people are found in the boundary areas like the Obi, Oju and Ado Local Government Areas. It is known as the "Heartbeat of the Middle Belt" and the "Entertainment Capital of the Middle Belt" north of the Niger River. Otukpo, the Idoma people's traditional and administrative capital, is also known as the Lion's Heart and the Land of the Brave.[11]
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