Gombe State (Fula: Leyddi Gommbe 𞤤𞤫𞤴𞤣𞤭 𞤺𞤮𞤥𞥆𞤦𞤫) is a state in northeastern Nigeria, bordered to the north and northeast by the state of Borno and Yobe, to the south by Taraba State, to the southeast by Adamawa State, and to the west by Bauchi State. Named for the city of Gombe—the state's capital and largest city—Gombe State was formed from a part of Bauchi State on 1 October 1996.The state is among the multi lingual states in Nigeria.[4] Of the 36 states of Nigeria, Gombe is the 21st largest in area and 32nd most populous with an estimated population of about 3.25 million as of 2016.[5]
Gombe State | |
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State | |
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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: Sa'idu Ahmed Alkali (APC) S: Amos Bulus Kilawangs (APC) |
• Representatives | List |
Area | |
• Total | 18,768 km2 (7,246 sq mi) |
• Rank | 21st of 36 |
Population (2006 census)1 | |
• Total | 2,365,040[1] |
• Rank | 33rd of 36 |
• Ethnicity | Fulani others |
GDP (PPP) | |
• Year | 2007 |
• Total | $2.50 billion[2] |
• Per capita | $1,036[2] |
Time zone | UTC+01 (WAT) |
ISO 3166 code | NG-GO |
HDI (2018) | 0.410[3] low · 34th of 37 |
Website | gombestate |
^1 Preliminary results |
Geographically, the State is within the tropical West Sudanian savanna ecoregion. Important geographic features include 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.[6][7]
Ethnically, Gombe is inhabited by various ethnic groups, primarily the Fulani people living in the north and centre of the state along with the Bolewa, Kanuri, and Hausa peoples while the state's diverse eastern and southern regions are populated by the Cham, Dadiya, Jara, Kamo, Pero, Tangale, Tera, and Waja peoples.
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.[8] 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 was broken off to form the new Gombe State.
Economically, Gombe State is largely based around agriculture, mainly of sorghum, maize, groundnuts, millet, and tomatoes. Other key industries are services, especially in the city of Gombe, and the livestock herding of camels, cattle, goats, and sheep. Gombe has the fourth lowest Human Development Index and second lowest GDP in the country.[9]
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. 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.[10]
Gombe has two distinct climates, the dry season (November–March) and the rainy season (April–October) with an average rainfall of 850mm.
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 3 Senators and 6 Members in the National Assembly (Nigeria).
Gombe State consists of eleven (11) Local Government Areas. They are:
LGA | Area (km2) | Census 2006 population |
Administrative capital | Postal code |
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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 | 1,981 | 255,248 | Deba | 761 |
Gombe State is a multi-ethnic society that consists of the majority Fulani tribe, who inhabit the Northern part of the Gombe State. They dominate 6 out of the 11 Local Government Areas of the state. This include Dukku, Kwami, Funakaye, Nafada, Akko, 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.[11]
Languages of Gombe State listed by LGA:[12]
LGA | Languages |
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Akko | Fulani; Kanuri; Jukun; Tangale; Tera |
Balanga | Bangwinji; Centúúm; Dadiya; Dera; Dikaka; Dza; Kyak; Longuda; Moo; Tangale; Tso; Waja |
Billiri | Tangale |
Dukku | Fulani; Kanuri; Bolewa |
Funakaye | Fulani; Kanuri; Tera |
Kaltungo | Awak; Tangale; Tula; Kamo |
Kwami | Fulani; Bolewa; Kanuri; Tera |
Nafada | Fulani; Bolewa; Hausa |
Shongom | Tangale; Kushi; Moo; Loo; Wurkun |
Yamaltu-Deba | Tera; Fulani; Jara; |
Higher institutions in Gombe State are:
This is a list of administrators and Governors of Gombe State.
Name | Title | Took Office | Left Office | Party |
---|---|---|---|---|
Group Captain Joseph Orji | Administrator | 7 Oct 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 | Incumbent | APC |
Gombe State Water Board is a Gombe State Government organisation that aims at providing water for the citizens of Gombe State for domestic, industrial and commercial purposes.[17]
The government's organisations is governed by a board of directors composed of a part-time chairman, the chief executive or chief manager and nine other members.[17]
All members of the organisation are being appointed by the Governor and are serving on part-time bases, except the General Manager.
The Secretary/Legal Adviser is a legal practitioner appointed by the Governor to render Legal Services to the Board.
The General Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Board and assisted in the performance of his duties by five (5) Assistants.
The responsibilities of the General Manager cover Projects Management and Planning, Operation and Services, Finance and Supply and Commercial Departments.
Currently, the governor of Gombe state, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has appointed Magaji Abubakar Difa as the general manager of the organisation.[18]
This section does not cite any sources. (February 2020) |
The state has a lot of attraction and they include: [23]
The Tomb of Sultan Attahiru
Bubayero's Tomb
The famous Bima Hill
The Dadin Kowa Dam
The Killang Hill
The Tula Plateau
The Bulok Warm Spring
The Kalam Hill
The Cham Valley
The Ancient Binga Ruins
Major Mash Grave
LT Phillips Grave
Bace Hills
Tula Hideout Caves
Kanawa Forest
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Governors of Gombe State | |
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States of Nigeria | |
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Nigeria portal |