Gombe State (Fula: Lesdi Gommbe 𞤤𞤫𞤴𞤣𞤭 𞤺𞤮𞤥𞥆𞤦𞤫;) is a state in northeastern Nigeria, bordered to the north and northeast by the states of Borno for 93 km in the vicinity of Gongola River and Lake Dadin Kowa and Yobe in the vicinity of Gongola River for 140 km, to the south by Taraba State for 58 km, to the southeast by Adamawa State for 95 km, and to the west by Bauchi State for 277 km (172 miles). Gombe is the state capital of Gombe state and it was formed from a part of Bauchi State on 1 October 1996.[5] Of the 36 states in Nigeria, Gombe is the 21st largest in area and the 32nd most populous, with an estimated population of about 3.25 million as of 2016.[6] The state bears a slogan "Jewel in the Savannah".[7]
Gombe State | |
|---|---|
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Gombe State in Nigeria | |
| Coordinates: 10°15′N 11°10′E | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| Date created | 1 October 1996 |
| Capital | Gombe |
| Government | |
| • Body | Government of Gombe State |
| • Governor | Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya (APC) |
| • Deputy Governor | Manasseh Daniel Jatau (APC) |
| • Legislature | Gombe State House of Assembly |
| • Senators | C: Mohammed Danjuma Goje (APC) N: Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (PDP) S: Anthony Yaro (PDP) |
| • Representatives | List |
| Area | |
| • Total | 18,768 km2 (7,246 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 21st of 36 |
| Population (2006 census)1 | |
| • Total | 2,365,040[1] |
| • Estimate (2022[2]) | 3,960,100 |
| • Rank | 33rd of 36 |
| GDP (PPP) | |
| • Year | 2021 |
| • Total | $13.58 billion[3] |
| • Per capita | $3,553[3] |
| Time zone | UTC+01 (WAT) |
| ISO 3166 code | NG-GO |
| HDI (2021) | 0.408[4] low · 34th of 37 |
| Website | gombestate |
| ^1 Preliminary results | |
Geographically, the state is within the tropical West Sudanian savanna ecoregion.[8] Important geographic features include the Gongola River — which flows through Gombe's north and east into Lake Dadin Kowa — and part of the Muri Mountains, a small range in the state's far south. Among the state's nature are a number of snake species, including carpet viper, puff adder, and Egyptian cobra populations along with hippopotamus, Senegal parrot, and grey-headed kingfisher populations.[9][10]
The state is inhabited by various ethnic groups, primarily the Fulani people living in the north and center of the state, while the state's diverse eastern and southern regions are populated by the Cham, Dadiya, Jara, Kamo, Pero, Tangale, Tera, and Waja peoples. Religiously, between 65% and 70% of the state's populations are Muslim while the Christian minority comprises between 30% and 35%.[11]
In the pre-colonial period, the area that is now Gombe State was split up between various states until the early 1800s, the Fulani jihad seized much of the area and formed the Gombe Emirate under the Sokoto Caliphate. In the 1910s, British expeditions occupied the Emirate and the surrounding areas, incorporating them into the Northern Nigeria Protectorate which later merged into British Nigeria before becoming independent as Nigeria in 1960.[12] Originally, modern-day Gombe State was a part of the post-independence Northern Region until 1967 when the region was split and the area became part of the North-Eastern State. After the North-Eastern State was split, Bauchi State was formed in 1976 alongside ten other states. Twenty years afterward, a group of LGAs in the Bauchi's west were broken off to form the new Gombe State.
Economically, Gombe State is largely based around agriculture, mainly of sorghum, maize, groundnuts, millet, beans, rice and tomatoes. Other key industries are services, especially in the city of Gombe, and the herding of camels, cattle, goats, and sheep. Gombe has the fourth lowest Human Development Index and one of the lowest GDPs in the country.[13]
Gombe is one of the "friendliest" cities in Nigeria for doing business, due to its excellent modern infrastructure, secure and stable serenity, transparency and easier accessibility of information, regulatory environment, skills and labour and economic opportunities. These earned her the World Bank's yearly appraisal, "The Ease of Doing Business", in 2021 and 2023.[14]
Overview
The state has an area of 20,265 km2 and a population of around 2,365,000 people as of 2006.[1]
It was formed in October 1996, from part of the old Bauchi State by the Abacha military government.[15] [5]The state is located in Nigeria's Guinea savannah and Sudan savannah belts. Undulating hills, sandy rocks, and a few volcanic rocks make up the landscape. Its location in the north eastern zone, right within the expansive savannah, allows the state to share common borders with the states of Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Adamawa and Bauchi.[16]
Gombe has two distinct climates, the dry season (November–March) and the rainy season (April–October) with an average rainfall of 850mm.[17]
Local Government Areas
Gombe State consists of eleven local government areas. They are:
| LGA | Area (km2) | Census 2006 population |
Administrative capital | Postal code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akko | 2,627 | 337,853 | Kumo | 771 |
| Balanga | 1,626 | 212,549 | Tallase | 761 |
| Billiri | 737 | 202,144 | Billiri | 771 |
| Dukku | 3,815 | 207,190 | Dukku | 760 |
| Funakaye | 1,415 | 236,087 | Bajoga | 762 |
| Gombe | 52 | 268,000 | Gombe (city) | 760 |
| Kaltungo | 881 | 149,805 | Kaltungo | 770 |
| Kwami | 1,787 | 195,298 | Mallam Sidi | 760 |
| Nafada | 1,586 | 138,185 | Nafada | 762 |
| Shongom | 922 | 151,520 | Boh | 770 |
| Yamaltu/Deba | 2,181 | 355,248 | Deba | 761 |
Demographics
Gombe State is a multi-ethnic society that consists of the majority Fulani tribe, who inhabit the northern and central parts of Gombe State. They dominate 7 out of the 11 Local Government Areas of the state. These include Dukku, Kwami, Funakaye, Nafada, Akko, Yamaltu and Gombe LGAs. Apart from the Fulani, there are also the Tangale, found in Billiri and Kaltungo areas. Other ethnicities include the Hausa, Tula, Tera (Yamaltu-Deba), Waja, Bolewa, and Kanuri, with their different cultural as well as lingual affiliations.[18]
Religion
65-70% Muslim, 30-35% Christian, including the Anglican Diocese of Gombe (1999) led by Bishop Cletus Tambari (2020), within the Province of Jos of the Church of Nigeria. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bauchi (1996) includes Gombe with 92,620 followers in 28 parishes under Bishop Hilary Nanman Dachelem (as at 2017).
Politics
The state government is led by a democratically elected governor who works closely with members of the state's house of assembly.[19]
The capital city of the state is Gombe.[20]
The electoral system of each state is selected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of the state local government areas. If no candidate passes threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government areas.[19]
Languages
Languages of Gombe State, listed by LGA:[21]
| LGA | Languages |
|---|---|
| Akko | Fulani, Jukun, Tangale |
| Balanga | Bangwinji, Centúúm, Dadiya, Dera, Dikaka, Dza, Kyak, Longuda, Moo, Tangale, Tso, Waja |
| Billiri | Tangale |
| Dukku | Fulani, Bolewa |
| Funakaye | Fulani |
| Kaltungo | Awak, Tangale, Tula, Kamo, Yuwar, Cham |
| Kwami | Fulani, Kanuri |
| Nafada | Fulani, Bolewa |
| Shongom | Tangale, Kushi, Moo, Loo, Wurkun, Pipero |
| Yamaltu-Deba | Fulani, (katsinawa), Tera |
Politics
The state is headed by the Executive Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya and also has 24 State House Assembly members. Gombe has 11 local government areas and 14 emirates/chiefdoms. It has three Senators and six Members in the National Assembly.[18]
Governors
This is a list of administrators and governors of Gombe State.
| Name | Title | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group Captain Joseph Orji | Administrator | 7 October 1996 | Aug 1998 | Military |
| Abubakar Habu Hashidu | Governor | 29 May 1999 | 29 May 2003 | APP |
| Mohammed Danjuma Goje | Governor | 29 May 2003 | May 2011 | PDP |
| Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo | Governor | May 2011 | 29 May 2019 | PDP |
| Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya | Governor | May 2019 | Date | APC |
Rulers
Rulers of Gombe Emirate:[22]
| Start | End | Ruler |
|---|---|---|
| 1804 | 1841 | Abubakar "Buba Yero" dan Usman Subande (b. c.1762 – d. 1841) |
| 1841 | 1844 | Sulaymanu dan Abubakar (d. 1844) |
| 1844 | 1882 | Muhammadu Kwairanga dan Abi Bakar (d. 1882) |
| 1882 | 1888 | Abd al-Qadiri Zaylani dan Muhammadu (d. 1888) |
| 1888 | 1895 | Hasan dan Muhammadu (d. 1895) |
| 1895 | 1898 | Tukur dan Muhammadu (d. 1898) |
| 1898 | 1898 | Jalo dan Muhammadu |
| 1898 | 1922 | Umaru dan Muhammadu (d. 1922) |
| 1922 | 1935 | Haruna dan Umaru (d. 1935) |
| January 1936 | January 1984 | Abu Bakar dan Umaru (b. 1902) |
| January 1984 | 27 May 2014 | Shehu Usman Abubakar |
| June 2014 | Present | Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III (b. 1977) |
State agencies
Water Board
Gombe State Water Board is a state government organisation that provides water for domestic, industrial and commercial purposes. It is governed by a board of directors appointed by the state governor, with a chairman, a chief executive or chief manager, and nine other members.[23] They all serve on a part-time basis, other than the General Manager.[23]
Gombe Geographic Information System
Gombe Geographic Information System (GOGIS) is a digitalised land administrative system that carried out the process of determining, recording, disseminating information about land acquisition, ownership, its value and land management policies in Gombe State.
Gombe State Urban Planning and Development Authority
Gombe State Urban Planning and Development Authority (GOSPUDA) facilitates and enforces planning regulations for the development of the Gombe State by issuing and regulating building approval for individuals or organizations that wish to develop their land.
Climate
The dry season in Gombe is partly cloudy, and the city has year-round high temperatures. The wet season is unpleasant and overcast. The temperature rarely falls below 52 °F or rises over 105 °F throughout the year, often ranging from 57 °F to 100 °F.[24][25][26]
Average Temperature
_(Upper_Cretaceous;_Gombe_region,_Nigeria)_2_(30848115127).jpg)
With an average daily high temperature of 97°F, the hot season spans 2.3 months, from February 17 to April 26. At 98°F on average for high and 74°F for low, April is the hottest month of the year in Gombe. With an average daily maximum temperature below 86°F, the cool season spans 3.1 months, from July 6 to October 9. With an average low temperature of 58°F and high temperature of 90°F, December is the coldest month of the year in Gombe.[27]
Afforestation
The Gombe State Government has started a four million tree planting programme as part of a renewed effort to stop deforestation in the North Central Zone.
It is anticipated that the four-year plan, which would be implemented in parts, will last. The first part of the scheme has already seen the government plant 1.3 million tree saplings.[28][29][30]
Flood Control
As a result of these studies, the state government has taken preventive steps to lessen the impact of the impending floods and other environmental problems that are expected to hit the state.
In order to protect people and property while minimizing the effects of upcoming weather events and their potentially fatal consequences, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has ordered the Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources to coordinate with pertinent stakeholders and activate state emergency response and management resources.[31][32]
Erosion
Gombe State is still reeling from the devastating effects of a gully erosion that destroyed farmlands worth millions of Naira and damaged more than 200 homes. Despite state government efforts to lessen its effects, the gully erosions which particularly affected the Bogo neighborhood within the city has not been fully controlled.[33][34]
Air pollution
In Gombe, the air quality is acceptable except for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution, to whom some pollutants may pose a moderate health risk.[35][36][37]
Education
Secondary Schools.
- JIBWIS Islamic Science and Secondary School, Gombe.
Universities
- Gombe State University
- Federal University Kashere.
- North-Eastern University, Gombe
- Jewel University
Colleges
Transport
Federal highways are:
- A338 north from Gombe 118 km as the Ashaka-Bajago Rd and the Tonde-Ngalda-Badejo Rd to Yobe State at Ngalda as the Jangadoli-Fuka-Ngalalda Rd, and
- A345 as the Bachi-Bara-Gombe Rd east from Bauchi State at Wuro Dole and south and east from Gombe as the Gombe-Yola Rd via Kumo, Kalmai, Kaltungo Boha and Bambam as the Lafia-Ture-Wuro-Biriji Rd to Adamawa State near Tiksir.
Other major roads include:
- the Gombe-Wuyo-Biu Rd east to Borno State near Deba Kowa, and northwest from Gombe 80 km to Dukku.
- The 1067 mm Cape gauge Eastern Line east from Bauchi State via Gombe to Borno State, and the Gombe Line into downtown Gombe.
Airports:
Sports
- Gombe United F.C.
- Doma United F.C Savannah Tigers.
Notable people
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- Amina J. Mohammed, (born 27 June, 1961), former minister of Environment (2015-2016) UN deputy secretary[38]
- Usman Faruk,[39] the first military governor of the defunct northwestern state
- Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, teacher, preacher[40]
- Ibrahim Jalo Waziri, politician[41]
- Sheikh Kabir Muhammad Haruna Gombe, preacher[42]
- Isa Ali Pantami, (born 20 October 1972), preacher, a former NITDA Director-General from 26 September 2016 to 20 August 2019[43] and Minister of communication from 2019-2023.[44]
- Danladi Mohammed, politician
- Joshua Lidani, (born 1 October 1957), Nigerian politician is a former Senator for the Gombe South constituency of Gombe State, Nigeria from 2011 to 2015.[45]
- Eli Jidere Bala, (born 19 September 1954) a mechanical engineer and Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (5 May 2013 – 5 May 2023).
- Usman Bayero Nafada, (born 2 january 1961), politician a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria representing Dukku/Nafada Federal Constituency of Gombe state, from 2007 to 2011 and former Senator for the Gombe North senatorial district 2015.[46]
- Samkon Gado, Nigerian-American otolaryngologist and American football player
- Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa,[47] (born March,1950), jurist, Former President of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria from 2014 to 2020.
- Jaaruma, entrepreneur
- Aliyu Modibbo Umar, politician
- Mohammed Danjuma Goje,[48] (born 10 October 1952) Nigerian politician, former Gombe state Governor (2003-2011),and the senator for the Gombe central senatorial district from 2011 to date.[49]
- Helon Habila, novelist
- Dahiru Mohammed, politician
- Abubakar Buba Atare, Emir of Tula Chiefdom
- Buba Yero, the first Emir of Gombe
- Abubakar Shehu-Abubakar, 11th Emir of Gombe
- Aliyu Usman El-Nafaty OFR,[50] (born 25 December, 1960), academic a Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Vice-chancellor of Gombe State University.
- Usman Bello Kumo
- Momee Gombe (Maimuna Gombe Abubakar)[51]
- Saidu Ahmed Alkali.[52] A Nigerian politician, a former Senator representing the Gombe North Senatorial District and the Minister of Transportation since 2023.
- Kawu Peto Dukku.(1958-2010) a Nigerian Politician and former Senator representing the Gombe North Senatorial District from 2007 to 2010.
Media Stations
Gombe State has many media stations some of which are;
- Progress Radio and Television (97.3MHz)
- Amana Radio FM(98.1MHz)
- Gombe Media Cooperation Radio and television (GMC)
- Vision Radio FM
Economy
Most of the population in Gombe State are farmers. Both food and cash crops are produced by them. Yam, cassava, maize, tomatoes, and groundnuts are some of its food crops, while cotton is grown for each.[53]
These goods supply the raw materials for the state's agricultural industries, including the groundnut oil mill, cotton gin, and tomato plant. Cement production, furniture manufacturing, block production, and other small-scale businesses are additional industries.
Gombe has natural resources like uranium, gypsum, and limestone.
Recently, petroleum deposits were reported to have been discovered in the state.[53]
See also
References
External links
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