Adamawa (state)

Adamawa
State
Nickname(s): Land of Beauty

Location of Adamawa State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 9°20′N 12°30′E / 9.333°N 12.500°E / 9.333; 12.500
Country  Nigeria
Established 27 August 1991
Capital Yola
Government
 • Governor Bindo Jibrilla (APC)
 • Senators Mohammad mo Allah yidi, Binta Masi Garba, Abdulaziz Nyako
 • National Assembly delegates List
Area
 • Total 36,917 km2 (14,254 sq mi)
Population (2005)
 • Total 3,737,223
Time zone GMT (UTC+1)
Geocode NG-AD
GDP (2007) $4.58 billion[1]
GDP Per Capita $1,417[1]
Website www.adamawastate.gov.ng

Adamawa is a state in northeastern Nigeria, with its capital at Yola. It was formed in 1991 from part of Gongola State with four administrative divisions namely: Adamawa, Ganye, Mubi and Numan. It is also the home of the American University of Nigeria in Yola And Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola. It is one of the thirty-six (36) States which constitute the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

On 14 May 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Adamawa State, along with neighboring Borno State and Yobe State, due to the activities of Boko Haram.[2]

Geography

Adamawa is one of the largest states of Nigeria and occupies about 36,917 square kilometres. It is bordered by the states of Borno to the northwest, Gombe to the west and Taraba to the southwest. Its eastern border also forms the national eastern border with Cameroon. Topographically, it is a mountainous land crossed by the large river valleys - Benue, Gongola and Yedsarem. The valleys of Cameroon, Mandara and Adamawa mountains form part of the landscape.

Economy

The major occupation of the people is farming as reflected in their two notable vegetational zones, tile Sub-Sudan and Northern Guinea Savannah Zone. Their cash crops are cotton and groundnuts while food crops include maize, yam, cassava, guinea corn, millet and rice.

The village communities living on the banks of the rivers engage in fishing while the Fulanis are cattle rearers. The state has network of roads linking all parts of the country.

The development of many communities in the State can be traced to the colonial era when the Germans ruled a swath of territory known as the Northern and Southern Kameruns from Dikwa in the North to Victoria (Limbe) on the Atlantic coast, in the 19th century. These were however handed over, as UN Trustee Territories, to the British at the end of the first World War and the signing of the Versailles Treaty. After a series of plebiscites, the Northern Kameruns joined Nigeria to form the then Sardauna Province, and the Southern Kameruns formed a Confederation with French speaking Cameroon. Adamawa State is home to the headquarters of two indigenous churches which are the The Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN Church) with headquarters in Mubi Northern zone of the state and the Lutheran Church of Nigerian (LCCN Church) with headquarters in Numan in southern zone of the state. The Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN church) was founded in Garkida Gombi Local Government of the state in March 1923 by American missionaries. The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN Church) was founded in Numan by Dutch missionaries in 1913.

History

Main Article: Adamawa Emirate

Before it became a state in Nigeria, Adamawa was a subordinate kingdom of the Sultanate of Sokoto which also included much of northern Cameroon. The rulers bear the title of Emir (Lamido in the local language, Fulfulde). The name "Adamawa" came from the founder of the kingdom, Modibbo Adama, a regional leader of the Fulani Jihad organized by Usumaanu dan Fodio of Sokoto in 1804. Modibbo Adama came from the region of Gurin (now just a small village) and in 1806 received a green flag for leading the jihad in his native country. In the following years Adama conquered many lands and tribes. In 1838 he moved his capital to Ribadu, and in 1839 to Joboliwo. In 1841 he founded Yola where he died in 1848. After the European colonization (first by Germany and then by Britain) the rulers remained as Emirs, and the line of succession has continued to the present day.

Emirs of Adamawa

Emirs of Adamawa have included:

Impact of Islamist insurgency

Adamawa State has been impacted by the Islamist insurgency in Nigeria. As of November 30, 2014, Adamawa State has become home to camps housing an estimated 35,000 internally displaced persons fleeing violence from Boko Haram in locations such as Mubi, Madagali, Askira Uba, Bama, and Gwoza, in the states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe. Another 100,000 internally persons are estimated to be living in households outside the camps, and with friends or relatives. Some Nigerians who had earlier fled to Cameroon have now been repatriated.[3] Yet another estimate placed the number of internally displaced persons around Yola at 400,000.[4] Organizations serving the community include the Adamawa Peace Initiative (API), a group of business, religious, and community leaders, and the Adamawa Muslim Council. The United States Agency for International Development has pledged to provide continuing humanitarian assistance.[5]

A measles outbreak was reported in the camps in January 2015.[6]

Sites of Interest

Local Government Areas

Adamawa State consists of twenty-one (21) Local Government Areas (LGAs). They are:

Key People from Adamawa State

References

  1. 1 2 "C-GIDD (Canback Global Income Distribution Database)". Canback Dangel. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  2. ↑ "Nigeria declares 'massive' military campaign on borders". BBC News. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  3. ↑ Internally Displaced Persons In Nigeria Cry Out For Help. Channels Television, November 30, 2014
  4. ↑ Nigeria: U.S., UK, American University Deliver Relief Materials to Adamawa Displaced Persons. Premium Times - allAfrica.com, November 20, 2014
  5. ↑ Nigeria: U.S., UK, American University Deliver Relief Materials to Adamawa Displaced Persons. allAfrica.com, November 20, 2014
  6. ↑ Nigeria: Adamawa IDPs’ Camps Record Outbreak of Measles. Leadership (Abuja) - allAfrica.com, January 15, 2015

External links

Coordinates: 9°20′N 12°30′E / 9.333°N 12.500°E / 9.333; 12.500

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