Nasarawa State

Nasarawa
State

Seal
Nickname(s): Home of Solid Minerals

Location of Nasarawa State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 8°32′N 8°18′E / 8.533°N 8.300°E / 8.533; 8.300Coordinates: 8°32′N 8°18′E / 8.533°N 8.300°E / 8.533; 8.300
Country  Nigeria
Date created 1 October 1996
Capital Lafia
Government
  Governor[1] Umaru Tanko Al-Makura
  Deputy Governor Silas Ali Agara
  Representatives List
Area
  Total 27,117 km2 (10,470 sq mi)
Population (2005)
  Total 2,040,112
  Density 75/km2 (190/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
  Year 2007
  Total $3.02 billion[2]
  Per capita $1,588[2]
Time zone WAT (UTC+01)
ISO 3166 code NG-NA
Website www.nasarawastate.gov.ng

Nasarawa is a state in north central Nigeria. Its capital is Lafia.

History

Nasarawa was created on 1 October 1996 by the Abacha government from the (today neighboring) Plateau State.[3]

Geography

Nasarawa State is bounded in the north by Kaduna State, in the west by the Abuja Federal Capital Territory, in the south by Kogi and Benue States and in the east by Taraba and Plateau States.

A network of roads exist within the state, linking all rural areas and major towns. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) operates train services from Kuru, Gombe and Maiduguri.

Local Government Areas

The State has three National Senatorial Districts (South, North and West).

Nasarawa State consists of thirteen (13) Local Government Areas (shown with 2006 population figures[4]):

Nasarawa West Senatorial District 716,802 Nasarawa North Senatorial District 335,453 Nasarawa South Senatorial District 811,020
Karu 205,477 Akwanga 113,430 Awe 112,574
Keffi 92,664 Nasarawa Egon 149,129 Doma 139,607
Kokona 109,749 Wamba 72,894 Keana 79,253
Nasarawa 189,835 Lafia 330,712
Toto 119,077 Obi 148,874

List of current Local Government Area Chairmen.[5]

Economy

Concrete block factory in Nasarawa State.

Nasarawa State has agriculture as the mainstay of its economy with the production of varieties of cash crops throughout the year. It also contains various minerals such as salt, baryte, and bauxite, which are mostly mined by artisanal miners.

Education

The state has a College of Education in Akwanga, College of Agriculture in Lafia, Nasarawa State Polytechnic in Lafia, Nasarawa State University in Keffi, a newly established Federal University of Lafia, and other vocational training schools.

Tourism

Nasarawa State is home to the Farin Ruwa Falls in Wamba Local Government area of the state. Farin Ruwa falls is reputed to be one of the highest falls in Africa.[6]

There is also the Salt Village in Keana Local Government Area of the State. It produces naturally iodized salt from the lake located near it.The town is also one of the cradles of Alago civilization, one of the major ethnic groups in the state.

References

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