Gombe State

Gombe State
State
Flag of Gombe State
Flag
Seal of Gombe State
Seal
Location of Gombe State in Nigeria
Location of Gombe State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 10°15′N 11°10′E / 10.250°N 11.167°E / 10.250; 11.167
Country Nigeria
Date created1 October 1996
CapitalGombe
Government
 • BodyGovernment of Gombe State
 • GovernorMuhammad Inuwa Yahaya (APC)
 • Deputy GovernorManasseh Daniel Jatau (APC)
 • LegislatureGombe State House of Assembly
 • SenatorsC: Mohammed Danjuma Goje (APC)
N: Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (PDP)
S: Anthony Yaro (PDP)
 • RepresentativesList
Area
 • Total
18,768 km2 (7,246 sq mi)
 • Rank21st of 36
Population
 (2006 census)1
 • Total
2,365,040[1]
 • Estimate 
(2022[2])
3,960,100
 • Rank33rd of 36
GDP (PPP)
 • Year2021
 • Total$13.58 billion[3]
 • Per capita$3,553[3]
Time zoneUTC+01 (WAT)
ISO 3166 codeNG-GO
HDI (2022)0.466[4]
low · 29th of 37
Websitegombestate.gov.ng
^1 Preliminary results

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]

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 when 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 afterwards, a group of LGAs in 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]

Agriculture in Gombe State. Akko LGA
Agriculture in gombe state

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 northeastern 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

See also: List of villages in Gombe State

Gombe State consists of eleven local government areas. They are:[18]

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, Kaltungo and Shongom LGAs. Other ethnicities include the Hausa, Tula, Tera (Yamaltu-Deba), Waja, Bolewa, and Kanuri, with their different cultural as well as lingual affiliations.[19]

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 of 2017).

Politics

The state government is led by a democratically elected governor who works closely with members of the state's House of Assembly.[20]

The capital city of the state is Gombe.[21]

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 the 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.[20]

Languages

Languages of Gombe State, listed by LGA:[22]

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

Governor of Gombe State. Muhammad Inuwa Yahya
Muhammad Damjuma Goje. Past Governor of Gombe State and Current Senator

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.[19]

Governors

Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo. Past Governor of Gombe State and Current in House of Assembly

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

Abubakar Shehu-Abubakar The current Emir of Gombe State
The late Emir of Gombe. His Royal Highness, Alhaji Shehu Usman Abubakar From January 1984 to May 2014

Rulers of Gombe Emirate:[23]

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

Main entrance of Gombe State 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.[24] They all serve on a part-time basis, other than the General Manager.[24]

Gombe Geographic Information System

Gombe Geographic Information System (GOGIS) is a digitalised land administrative system that carries out the process of determining, recording, and disseminating information about land acquisition, ownership, value and land management policies in Gombe State.

Gombe State Urban Planning and Development Authority

Gombe geography information system
Gombe geography information system main office
Gombe geography information system
Director of Gombe geography information system and the Technical teams

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.[25][26][27]

Average Temperature

Vascoceras sp. (fossil ammonite) (Upper Cretaceous; Gombe region, Nigeria

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 highs and 74°F for lows, 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.[28]

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.[29][30][31]

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.[32][33]

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 have not been fully controlled.[34][35]

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.[36][37][38]

Education

Secondary Schools.

  • JIBWIS Islamic Science and Secondary School, Gombe.

Universities

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:

Railways:

  • 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 FC

Notable people

President John F. Kennedy visits with members of Parliament of Nigeria in the West Wing Colonnade of the White House, Washington, D.C. The Parliamentary delegation includes President of the Senate, Dennis Chukude Osadebay; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ibrahim Jalo Waziri; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emmanuel Chikere Akwiwu; members of the Senate, Dahlton O. Asemoto, Chief Z. C. Obi, and Zanna Medalla Sheriff; members of the House of Representatives, Mallam Muhammadu Sagir Umar and Chief Ohu Babatunde Akin-Olugbade; Staff Assistant to the delegation, J. O. Adeigbo.
Sheikh Kabiru Haruna Gombe
Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi
Amina J. Mohammed
Issa Ali Pantami
See also: List of governors of Gombe State

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.[54]

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.[54]

See also

References

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