Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
🗺️

Taraba State

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Taraba is a state located in north-eastern Nigeria. It is often nicknamed "Nature's Gift to the Nation." The state capital is the city of Jalingo. Taraba was officially created on 27 August 1991. This happened under the military government of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. Before this, the area was part of the former Gongola state. The modern state is an amalgamation of three former divisions named Wukari, Mambilla, and Muri.

The geography of Taraba is defined by its many borders and water sources. It sits near several other Nigerian states. To the north, it borders Bauchi and Gombe states. To the northeast, it touches Adamawa state. To the west, it is bordered by Nasarawa and Benue states. The southern border meets the Northwest Region of Cameroon.

Donga River, Taraba state
Donga River, Taraba state

Water is central to the landscape. The Benue, Donga, and Taraba rivers are the three main rivers. These rivers begin in the Cameroonian mountains. They drain almost the entire length of the state as they flow north. Eventually, they turn west to link up with the Niger River.

The climate in Taraba is generally warm and humid. The annual average temperature is 33°C. The state experiences its highest temperatures in March and April. During those months, the average high can reach 40.44°C. The state receives an annual rainfall of 100.64 millimeters. This rainfall increases around the month of August. The average relative humidity is 54.98%. However, heavy water can cause problems. In April 2023, flooding affected many homes and commercial buildings in the state.

Taraba is a place of great cultural and linguistic diversity. It is home to about 80 distinct ethnicities and their languages. The population is divided into different groups based on geography. The northern part is mostly Fulani, Mumuye, and Sho. The central region is occupied by the Fulani, Mambilla, Ndola, Tigon, Jibu, Wurbo, and Daka people. The southern part is primarily Jukun, Wurkum, Tiv, Chamba, Kuteb, and Ichen.

Languages vary greatly by Local Government Area (LGA). For example, in Takum, people speak Kuteb, Tiv, and the Acha language. In Ardo Kola, residents speak Fulfulde, Mumuye, Jibu, and Hausa.

The economy of Taraba relies heavily on agriculture. Most people work in farming or livestock production. Farmers grow cash crops like coffee, tea, groundnuts, and cotton. They also produce large quantities of maize, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava, and yam.

A man weeds his rice crop
A man weeds his rice crop

Livestock is also very important. People rear cattle, sheep, and goats in large numbers. This is especially common on the Mambilla Plateau and the river valleys. In February 2024, the World Bank announced plans to empower 5,200 female livestock farmers there. People living near the Benue, Taraba, and Donga rivers also engage in year-round fishing.

Transportation In river Lamido, Taraba State
Transportation In river Lamido, Taraba State

Taraba is also rich in natural resources and minerals. The state contains many raw materials used for industry. These include barytes, bauxites, graphite, and limestone. Other minerals include gypsum, kaoline, feldspar, mica, pyrite, and uranium. The state also produces many agro-raw materials like timber, palm oil, cocoa, and citrus. For fun and tourism, the state offers sites like the Mambilla Tourist Center and Gumpti Park. There are also many cultural festivals. The Nwunyu fishing festival in Ibi is held every April. It features canoe racing, swimming, and cultural dances.

Governance and education help organize the state. Taraba is divided into sixteen Local Government Areas (LGAs). Each LGA is governed by an elected chairman. The state government is led by a democratically elected governor and the House of Assembly. The governor is chosen using a modified two-round system. This system requires a candidate to get a plurality of votes and over 25% of votes in two-thirds of the LGAs. Education is supported by many institutions. These include the Federal University in Wukari and the Taraba State University. There are also several hospitals and medical centers to serve the population.

642 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Donga River, Taraba state.jpg
Donga River, Taraba state.jpg
File:Transportation In river Lamido, Taraba State.jpg
Transportation In river Lamido, Taraba State.jpg
File:A_man_weeds_his_rice_crop.jpg
A_man_weeds_his_rice_crop.jpg
File:Mambilla Tribe Taraba State.jpg
Mambilla Tribe Taraba State.jpg
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.