Jos

Jos is a major city located in the North-Central region of Nigeria.

It serves as the administrative capital and the largest city of Plateau State. The city sits high upon the Jos Plateau within the Guinea Savannah. This elevated position makes the geography very distinct from the surrounding lowlands. Drivers traveling to the city often encounter steep, windy bends and mountainous scenery. These features are typical of the plateau and give the state its name. Jos acts as a vital link for road travel between North-Eastern capitals and Abuja.

The climate in Jos is unique compared to most of Nigeria. Because of its high altitude, the weather is closer to a temperate climate. The city receives about 1,100 mm of rainfall every year. This precipitation comes from both convectional and orographic sources. Orographic rainfall occurs when air is forced to rise over mountains. Average monthly temperatures vary, but the air remains relatively cool. From mid-November to late January, night temperatures can drop quite low. During the rainy season, the cooler high-altitude air sometimes causes hail to fall.

The history of the region stretches back to the Nok people. These were skilled artisans who lived in the Jos area before the late first millennium. Later, indigenous ethnic groups who were mostly farmers inhabited the land. During British colonial rule, the discovery of tin changed the region forever. Large deposits of cassiterite, the main ore for tin, were found nearby. This led to extensive mining of both tin and columbite until the 1960s. These minerals were transported by railway to the coastal ports of Lagos and Port Harcourt. Because of this industry, the city is still often called "Tin City."

There are different stories regarding how the city received its name. One account from a British administrator suggests the original name was Gwosh. Gwosh was a village in the Izere language spoken by the Afusari settlers. The Hausa people may have mispronounced Gwosh as "Jos," and the name eventually stuck. Another theory suggests the name comes from the Arabic word "Jasad," meaning body. In this version, the area was called "Jas" to distinguish it from nearby hilltops. This mispronunciation by the British allegedly resulted in the name "Jos."

The mining boom caused a massive influx of diverse people. Migrants from the Hausa north, the southeastern Igbo, and the southwestern Yoruba moved to the area. This movement turned Jos into a highly cosmopolitan "melting pot" of different ethnicities and religions. Today, the city is divided into two main local government areas. Jos North serves as the commercial nerve center of the state. It houses the state branch of Nigeria's Central Bank and many commercial headquarters. It is also home to the University of Jos and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

Jos South functions as the industrial and political heart of the state. It contains the seat of the Executive Governor in Rayfield. This area is home to many large industries, such as the NASCO group. Other companies in this area produce biscuits, cereals, and steel.

Jos South also hosts prestigious academic institutions. These include the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies and the National Centre for Remote Sensing. The city has also grown together with the town of Bukuru to form the Jos-Bukuru metropolis. This urban area is a major center for both administration and manufacturing.

Visitors to Jos can find many notable landmarks and natural features. The Jos Wildlife Park was established in 1972 to conserve local species. It is home to lions, baboons, and elephants.

The Jos Museum, founded in 1952, holds a famous collection of Nok terracotta heads. These artifacts date from 500 BCE to 200 CE. For those interested in nature, the Riyom Rocks offer a dramatic sight. These are large piles of rocks that appear to balance precariously on one another.

The city remains a vital center for Nigerian culture, science, and tourism.