Niamtougou

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Niamtougou
Niamtougou Location in Togo
Coordinates: 9°46′N 1°06′E / 9.767, 1.1
Country	Togo
Region	Kara Region
Population (2005)[1]
- Total	24,000

Niamtougou is a market town in Doufelgou District (Préfecture), Kara Region, Togo. It is located 28 km (17 mi) north of Kara on the nation's main North-South road, the Route Nationale No. 1. It is also the district capital and houses facilities of the Interior, Education, and Rural Development Ministries. There is a modest hospital and a small state hotel. The Niamtougou Market is second only to the Kétao Market in its importance in the Kara Region. While "market day" is weekly on Sunday, there is significant daily activity.

Niamtougou is composed of six villages that are in close proximity to each other: Niamtougou, Koka, Baga, Ténéga, Yaka, and Agbandé. Niamtougou, Koka, Baga, and Ténéga are composed principally of speakers of Nawdm (Losso) while Yaka and Agbandé are composed of Lamba-speakers. The marketplace is located in Niamtougou. The district's administrative offices, including the office and residence of the District Governor (Préfet), are located in Koka. The Niamtougou International Airport - Togo's second largest airport after the Tokoin International Airport in Lomé - is located in Baga and is 4 km (2.5 mi). North of Niamtougou center. The airport is primarily used by the Togolese Air Force and by civilian government airplanes, as well as by charter and private flights. Attempts have been made to schedule regular commercial flights to serve Northern Togo, such as Air Burkina Ouagadougou-Niamtougou-Lomé round-trip flights, but to date these flights have not proved to be commercially viable. There is a gendarmerie base across the road from the airport.

There are numerous public elementary schools and a secondary school (lycée). In addition, there is a Roman Catholic mission elementary school and a large Roman Catholic church. Most of Niamtougou's Christian population is Roman Catholic. There is a mosque (masjid) in the center of Niamtougou across from the market. Most Muslims in Niamtougou are merchants or civil servants who are not originally from the area.

Secondary roads leaving Niamtougou connect to the agricultural communities of Siou, Pouda, Massadéna, and Tchitchirra and the crossroads market town of Kouméa.

[edit] References