Benue State
- Current Governor: Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia
- Founded: February 3, 1976
- Area: 34,059 km²
- Capital: Makurdi
- Geopolitical Zone: North Central
- HD1 (2021): 0.604; medium, 18 of 37
- ISO 3166 code: NG-BE
- Population: 4.2 million
- Postal Code: 970001
- Official Website
- Slogan: The Food Basket of the Nation
Background
Benue State is located in the North Central region of Nigeria. It shares borders with Nasarawa State to the north, Taraba State to the northeast, Cross River State to the southeast, Enugu State to the south, Ebonyi State to the southwest, and Kogi State to the west. As of 2006, the estimated population of Benue State was about 4.2 million people.
Governors of Benue State:
- Aper Aku - 1979 - 1983
- Yohanna Madaki - 1986 - 1986
- Fidelis Makka - 1987 - 1992
- Moses Adasu - 1992 - 1993
- George Akume - 1999 - 2007
- Gabriel Suswam - 2007 - 2015
- Samuel Ortom - 2015 - 2023
- Rev. Fr. Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia - 2023 to present
History of Benue State
The region known as Benue State was inhabited by various ethnic groups, including the Tiv, Idoma, and Igede people before it came under British colonial rule in 1904 as part of the Northern Nigeria Protectorate. Benue-Plateau State was created in 1967, comprising present-day Benue and Plateau States. In 1976, Benue State was carved out from the former Benue-Plateau State. The city of Makurdi became the capital of Benue State in 1976, replacing the former capital, Gboko.
Notable individuals from Benue State
Tiv Tribe:
- J.S. Tarka (1932 - 1980) - Politician and nationalist.
- Iyorchia Ayu (b. 1948) - Former senator and former PDP chairman.
- Gabriel Suswam (b. 1964) - Former Governor of Benue State.
Idoma Tribe: David Mark (b. 1948) - Former President of the Nigerian Senate.
