Gboko is a Local Government Area in Benue state, North-central Nigeria. The town of Gboko also doubles as the ancestral headquarters of the Tiv people. The palace of the Tor Tiv, who is the supreme traditional leader, is situated right in the heart of the town. Gboko is also host to former Benue Cement Company now Dangote Cement, and also home to the defunct BCC Lions Football Club, who were the 1990 winners of the African Cup Winners' Cup.
Gboko is one of the busiest towns in Benue State. Aside from Makurdi the state capital, Gboko is one of the other important commercial, administrative headquarters of the state. The town of Gboko lies alongside the route leading from Katsina-ala to Makurdi. It is a major commercial centre in the state as most of the commodities sold (yams, cassava flakes, vegetables, rice, beans) are transacted in large quantities. Gboko does not have an airport. The nearest airport you will find is Makurdi Airport, which is located in the state. It receives flights from major cities in the country. Travellers or visitors can get in by road.
Gboko is a city located in the Benue State of Nigeria. The city has a long and fascinating history, and it is home to a diverse population of people from different ethnic groups. From its early days as a Tiv settlement to its role in the struggle for Nigerian independence, the city has played an important role in the history of the region.
Map of Benue State, Nigeria
Historical Context
The history of Gboko dates back to the pre-colonial era when it was founded by the Tiv people. Benue State as it exists today is a surviving legacy of an administrative entity that was carved out of the protectorate of northern Nigeria at the beginning of the twentieth century. As an administrative unit, Benue State was first created on February 3, 1976. It was one of the seven states created by the military administration headed by the late General Murtala Mohammed, which increased the number of states in the country from 13 to 19. In 1991 its boundaries were adjusted with the creation of Kogi State.
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During the colonial era, the British established a presence in the area, and Gboko became an important trading center. In the post-colonial era, Gboko continued to grow and develop. The city became a center of political activity, and it played a key role in the struggle for Nigerian independence.
Geography and Climate
Gboko LGA was created on 11 May 1970 with a landmass of 2,264 sq km. Gboko LGA is located in the Savannah region and has a total area of 2,264 square kilometers.Gboko has a tropical wet and dry or savanna climate (Classification: Aw) and is zero meters (0 feet) above sea level.
Based on Koppen’s Scheme of Classification, Benue State lies within the AW Climate and experiences two distinct seasons, the wet/rainy season and the dry/summer season. The rainy season lasts from April to October with annual rainfall in the range of 100-200mm. The dry season begins in November and ends in March. Temperatures fluctuate between 23 - 37 degrees Celsius in the year.Much of Benue State falls within the Benue Valley/trough which is believed to be structurally developed.
Demographics and Culture
It is home to 500,000 people, predominantly the Tiv people and various other tribes, and to migrants and dwellers from across the country.The state comprised of several ethnic groups: Tiv, Idoma, Igede, Etulo, Abakpa, Jukun, Hausa, Akweya and Nyifon. Most of the people are farmers while the inhabitants of the riverine areas engage in fishing as their primary or important secondary occupation. The Benue State Government accords high respect to traditional rulers in recognition of their role as custodians of culture and as agents of development.
Benue State possesses a rich and diverse cultural heritage which finds expression in colourful cloths, exotic masquerades, supplicated music and dances. Traditional dances from Benue State have won acclaim at national and international cultural festivals. The socio-religious festivals of the people, colourful dances, dresses and songs are also of tourist value.
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Economy and Resources
Agriculture forms the backbone of the Benue State economy, engaging more than 70 per cent of the working population. Benue State is the nations acclaimed food basket because of its rich agricultural produce which include yams, rice, beans, cassava, potatoes, maize, soya beans, sorghum, millet and cocoyam. Benue State is blessed with abundant mineral resources. These resources are distributed in the Local Government Areas of the state. Of these mineral resources, only Limestone at Tse-Kucha near Gboko and Kaolinite at Otukpo are being commercially exploited. Mineral reserves including limestone, granite, barite, and alluvial clay are abundant in the Gboko LGA.
Limestone and its burnt derivative lime are very important raw materials for the industry. The Gboko limestone is a component of the sedimentary fill of the Benue trough. The limestone is Cretacious in age and is regarded as being part of Asu River Group. The Gboko limestone is fine-grained and is therefore favourably disposed to calcination into lumps of lime.
The major elements abundance in the representative samples of the limestone were determined using Atomic Absorption Spetrophotometry (AAS). Summary of the chemical results is presented in Table 1. Determination of trace elements concentrations in the samples was carried out using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF). Table 2 shows some trace elements concentrations in the Gboko limestone.
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Tables of Chemical Composition
The following tables summarize the chemical composition of Gboko Limestone:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Average CaCO3% | 92.41 |
| Range CaCO3 | 77.50% - 99% |
| Dominant Impurity | Silica |
| Second Impurity | Magnesia |
| Element | Concentration (ppm) |
|---|---|
| Strontium (Sr) | Average: 444.6, Range: 198 - 694 |
| Manganese (Mn) | Average: 841.3, Range: 545 - 1760 |
Transportation
Gboko does not have an airport. The nearest airport you will find is Makurdi Airport, which is located in the state. Travellers or visitors can get in by road. There are different interstate bus services that plys the route from Abuja to Benue state, few however goes direct to Gboko. The state run transport company, Benue Links runs a direct service from Abuja to Gboko, while others will stop at Makurdi from where you will board another vehicle going to Gboko. The transport fare ranges from ₦4,000 - 4,500 for a bus, to ₦5000 for the more comfortable cars.
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Tourism
Gboko is full of mountains, hills, rocks and water good for sightseeing. Apart from parks, beaches, dancing and masquerades mentioned above, the big hotels in Makurdi, Gboko and Otukpo are equipped with several indoor sporting facilities. There is a standard Arts Theatre, a modern Sports Complex which includes the Aper Aku Stadium, which has provisions for such games as tennis, basketball, volleyball and handball, an indoor sports hall and Olympic size swimming pool in Makurdi. Smaller stadia exist in Gboko (J. S. Tarka Stadium), Katsina-Ala, Adikpo, Vandeikya and Otukpo.
Some popular spot in Gboko are:
- 1 Level Chops, 3 Old Post Office Rd, ☏ +234-703-968-0959. 24 hr. Dine-in. Takeaway.
- 2 Innovation Pub, Mkar Rd. Daily 6PM-midnight. Dine-in. Takeaway.
- 3 Abu Family Bar, Gboko, ☏ +234-803-288-1760. Daily. Takeaway. Dine-in.
- 4 Mkar Stop Over Bar, Akpasher/UMM Junction,Mkar. Daily. Dine-in.
- 5 Cheers Restaurant Bar, Adeka Market,33 Capt Dawn Rd, ☏ +234-803-256-7966. Daily 7AM-10PM. Dine-in.Takeaway.
- 6 Wantor outdoor Bar, Gboko. Daily. Dine-in. Takeaway.
- 7 Jumat Guest Inn & Bar, Gboko-Makurdi Express Rd. Daily. Dine-in. Takeaway.
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