Benue State

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Benue State
State
Flag Seal
Nicknames:  Food Basket of the Nation
Location of Benue State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 7°20′N 8°45′E / 7.333°N 8.750°E / 7.333; 8.750
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: Gabriel Suswam (PDP) NW: Emmanuel Yisa Orker-Jev (PDP) 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^[5] and was among the seven states created at that time. The state derives its name from the Benue River which 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 include oranges, mangoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, soya bean, guinea corn, flax, yams, 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]