Published on 05/29/2007

Nasarawa State - Brief Data

Nasarawa State of Nigeria: Created from Plateau State of Nigeria on 1^st October, 1996.

State Capital:- Lafia

Land Area:- 27,116.8 square kilometers (Approximate Landmass).

Local Governments:- (13) Akwanga, Awe, Doma, Karu, Keana, Keffi, Kokona, Lafia, Nasarawa, Nasarawa Eggon, Obi, Toto, Wamba.

Boundaries:-

North- West by the Federal Capital

Territory (FCT), Abuja

North- East by Plateau State

North by Kaduna State

South by Benue State

South –West by Kogi State

South East by Taraba State

Location:- Located in the Middle-Belt region (Latitudes of Central position 08⁰-35’ and Longitudes of Central position 08 – 2F.

Climate:- It lies within the guinea Savannah region and has tropical climate. Rainfall is moderate with a mean annual rainfall of 1311:75cm.

Features:- It is made up of plain lands and hills measuring up to 300ft above the sea level at some points.

Tourist Attractions:- Farin Ruwa Waterfalls Wamba; Water Falls of Eggon Hill; Giza Crocodile Pond (Giza) Akiri Warm Spring. (Azara) Hunki Ox-bow lake in (Awe) Lafia Spring Water (Assakio). Captain Moloney Tomb (Hills) Keffi, Dying pits in Keffi and Lafia. Bakono Game Reserves (Nasarawa). Ara Rock (Nasarawa) Elongated Feruwa Lake at Assakio.

Solid Minerals:- Barytes (Azara) Salt mines (Keana), (Awe) and (Azara) gypsum in (Awe and Azara). Marble in Toto, galleria, tin, gemstone, mica kaolin and columbite are found in large quantities in many part of the State; also available are clays, zircon, feldspars, cassiterite, and limestone.

Economy:- Because of the agrarian economy of the State and its proximity to Abuja, it guarantees a ready fast moving market for its various agricultural crops and products, which include yams, maize, rice, guinea corn, beans, tomatoes. acha, groundnuts, cotton, millet, cassava, oranges, banana, apples and wheat.

Industries:- Efforts are in top gear to create a good industrial base. A package of incentives awaits potential investors. The state has now acquired its permanent Trade Fair Complex along Jos road so as to boost industrialisation and encourage the organised private sector to set up small scale industries and agro-allied ventures.

Education:- Four (4) Tertiary institutions are located in the State. They are the College of Education, Akwanga; College of Agriculture, Lafia; College of Arts, Science and Technology, Keffi and the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa. Their aim is to invest in human resources development for the much needed state’s manpower. High premium is placed on education while much emphasis is centered on primary education, which is the bedrock upon which other academic structures can be built up. Plans are currently on top gear to establish a State University.

Water Supply:- The State is well supplied with treated Pipe-borne water in all Local government areas.

Transportation:- The State is well linked by rail and road networks making it accessible from all parts of Nigeria. The State’s Mass Transit Agency provides sufficient transportation in and around the State and is popularly known as ‘ON THE MOVE’. Postal and Telecommunications facilities are also readily available in the State and most of the Local Governments are linked with telephones.

Peace and Security:- Peace and Security of lives and properties of the people and foreigners living in the State is not only the major pre-occupation of the authority but it is fully guaranteed and the entire inhabitants go about and freely with their normal daily business uninterrupted.