Yola (Fulfulde ƴola: meaning 'Great Plain' or 'Vast Plain Land',) is the capital city and administrative centre of Adamawa State, Nigeria. It is located on the Benue River, and has a population of over 336,648 (2010). Yola is split into two parts.
Map of Adamawa State in Nigeria
The old town of Yola where the Lamido resides is the traditional city but the new city of Jimeta (about 5 km NW) is the administrative and commercial centre. Generally the term Yola is now used to mean both. To the north are the Mandara Mountains and the south are the Shebshi Mountains with Dimlang (Vogel) Peak the second highest point (2,042 m) in Nigeria after Chappal Waddi (mountain of death).
Historical Background
Yola was founded around 1841 by Modibbo Adama Ibn Hussein, a Fulani cleric and a commander in the Sokoto jihadist army of Uthman dan Fodio, who settled there with his followers. Established in 1841, Yola is a municipality that sprawls across the hillside of this North-Eastern region of Nigeria. It was the capital of the Adamawa Emirate until it was taken over by the British in 1901. Today, it is the capital of Adamawa State, which was formed in 1991 from part of Gongola State.
During the Islamic movement led by Shehu Usman Dan Fodio in the early 19th century, Adama was recognised as a Muslim Scholar who could lead the people in the Upper Benue area. The first European to visit the area was Heinrich Barth in 1851, shortly after Yola was founded. In 1893, with sponsorship from the German Colonial Society, explorer Herr von Uechtritz visited Yola and described the city:
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With the firm, rocky ground we also reached Yola, which is built on a level sandstone ridge. It has between twelve and fifteen thousand inhabitants and gives a friendly impression. From a distance you imagine there is only a forest there, on the edge of which a few houses peep forth; but when you get nearer, a colourful picture unfolds. The fresh, dark green of the trees surrounding the farms contrasts sharply with the vivid red of the earth and the mud huts, and with the blue of the sky; even the monotonous grey of the zana mats and thatch roofs on which creepers climb, does not appear in the least unpleasant. But in truly surprising harmony does the dark brown skin of the inhabitants tone with the gentle and vivid colours of the landscape. And what an unfathomable feeling for beauty and colour awareness is revealed by the choice of white, blue and red materials in their dress!
Colonial Influence and Modern Development
Geographically, Yola is situated in the Upper Benue Valley, just south of the Benue River. The city is bordered on the north by the river and the Mandara mountains, and in the south by the Shebshi Mountains, which contain the Dimlang Peak, the second-biggest peak in Nigeria and a breath-taking landmark of the city. Yola was to become a scene of European imperial rivalry with the British laying claim to it in 1902 ahead of France and Germany.
In 1912, the British forces attacked and occupied the town, after the Emir had forced out the Royal Niger Company. This eventually led to the division of the emirate into two parts with the southern part coming under German control while the British held the north. The rivalry between the two European powers adversely affected commercial activities in Yola. It ended with the start of the First World in 1914 and Germany’s subsequent loss of its African colonial possessions.
The British colonial administration brought to Yola the usual amenities and infrastructure of the colonial service. These include schools, roads water supply, hospitals and electricity. The missionaries came to settle and work there because of the prevailing peaceful atmosphere and high level of religious tolerance, which enabled the Christians and Muslims to live in harmony. By the 1930s the nearby town of Jimeta, a river port on the Benue, had become closely tied with Yola.
From the colonial times, Yola has played very prominent role in the political evaluation of Nigeria. It was an important seat of politics in the 1950’s during the struggle for Nigeria’s independence from colonial rule. The town has been very active in the various elections in the country from the first republic to the present time.
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After Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960, Yola continued to grow as a regional hub. The city became the capital of the newly created Adamawa State in 1991, following the division of the former Gongola State.
Geography and Climate
As already noted, Yola lies on the bank of the Benue River. However, it is also in a mountainous region of Nigeria, hemmed in between the Shebshi Mountains (where the Dimlang Peak reaches out over 2,000 feet toward the sky) to the north and the Mandara Mountains to the south.
Yola has a tropical savanna climate that borders on a hot semi-arid climate (Aw bordering on BSh according to the Köppen climate classification) with a dry season and wet season. The temperature is warm year-round, with August and September having the lowest average high at 31.3 °C (88.3 °F) and December having the lowest average low at 16.9 °C (62.4 °F). March has the highest average high of 42.8 °C (109.0 °F), while April has the highest average low at 27.0 °C (80.6 °F).
Yola receives 872.4 mm (34.35 in) of precipitation annually on average. There is a wet season from May to October and a dry season for the rest of the year. The dry season, especially from February to April, has higher daytime temperatures and can have lower overnight lows. The dry season also has a higher diurnal temperature variation. August is the wettest month, receiving 196.1 mm (7.72 in) of rain on average over 16 precipitation days. No precipitation falls from December to February.
Humidity is low in the dry season, dropping to just 13.5% in February, but it can get quite humid during the wet season, especially from July to September. Yola's cloud cover varies significantly throughout the year; clearer months last 4.6 months, while partly overcast months last 7.4 months. Yola's monthly rainfall varies greatly according to the season, with a dry season running from November to March and averaging around 100mm to 200mm per month during the main wet season from May to October. The heaviest rain falls in August, with an average of 196 mm.
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Climate Data for Yola
| Month | Avg. High (°C) | Avg. Low (°C) | Precipitation (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35.4 | 17.3 | 0 |
| February | 38.6 | 20.2 | 0 |
| March | 42.8 | 25.1 | 7.4 |
| April | 41.1 | 27.0 | 45.0 |
| May | 36.4 | 25.2 | 107.2 |
| June | 32.8 | 23.5 | 149.5 |
| July | 31.6 | 22.7 | 161.8 |
| August | 31.3 | 22.4 | 196.1 |
| September | 31.3 | 22.5 | 172.8 |
| October | 34.4 | 23.3 | 32.6 |
| November | 36.9 | 19.5 | 0 |
| December | 34.2 | 16.9 | 0 |
Culture and Society
Yola is made up of many ethnic groups such as, the Mumuye, Fulani, Hausa, Higgi Bwatiye, Chamba and Marghi. They are joined by other ethnic groups from different parts of the country who live there to pursue their different occupations. Though the people have their distinct languages and dialects, the Hausa is the common language of the different groups.
Yola is rich in cultural heritage, reflective of its diverse population, including the Fulani, Hausa, and various indigenous ethnic groups. The city hosts several traditional festivals, such as the Durbar festival, which features horse riding, traditional music, and dances.
Yola boasts several architectural landmarks that reflect its historical and cultural evolution. The Lamido's Palace is a prominent feature, serving as the residence of the traditional ruler of Adamawa. The palace is an architectural marvel, blending traditional Fulani design with modern influences.
Adamawa state is home to many languages due to the state's ethnic diversity. Inter-ethnic communication is mostly done using Fulfulde, Hausa or English. Many of the state's languages are at danger of extinction due to economic, social, political, religious, and contextual factors.
Yola, like the rest of Nigeria, has a tropical climate divided into the wet season and the dry season. The rains tend to begin in April and peak in August before ending in October. The dry season starts in November, with January often the driest month. Members of a hunters’ guild passing through a suburb of Yola.
Economy and Transportation
The agricultural out-put in Yola Metropolis come about largely as a result of an intensive use of labor and organization of production by the community at that time. the Yola has abundance of Cattle which were use as provision of cattle which were use as source of manure for the farm. the production was both large and small scale. The commercial activities converged around Gurin and its environs which focus on political and military activities as the first capital of Yola.
The city is richly endowed with fertile ground for grazing and cultivation of food crops such as rice, guinea corn, beans groundnuts, millet, etc. It is strategically located on trade routes to Maiduguri to the north, Jalingo to the west and neigbhoring Cameroon ro the east. Yola is also a trading centre that attracts goods and merchants from the neighboring communities as well as far-flung places such as north, central Africa and Western Sudan.
The economy of Yola is primarily driven by agriculture, with the fertile land around the Benue River supporting the cultivation of crops such as rice, maize, and vegetables. Livestock farming is also significant, especially cattle rearing by the Fulani herdsmen. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on commerce and trade, with markets like the Jimeta Main Market serving as vital commercial hubs.
Yola is an important transortation centre for vehicles going north to Mubi and Mauduguri. Westwards, it yields access to the town of Numan and the cities of Gombe, Bauchi and Jalingo. To the south there’s road access to Makurdi, Katsina-Ala and Wukari. It is also a staging post for travels across the border to neighbouring Cameroon via Maroua.
The nearby town of Jimeta has a market, zoo, an airport with direct flights to Saudi Arabia, NiPost and NiTel offices as well as the main mosque and cathedral. Being a state capital, it is a major transport hub with buses and taxis heading north to Mubi and Maiduguri, west to Numan, Gombe, jalingo and Bauchi and south to Makurdi and Katsina Ala. Taxis are available to Garoua in Cameroon. There is an airport with regular flights to Abuja and Lagos.
Education
The town is home to various institutions of learning, such as the:
- American University of Nigeria (AUN) (which is Africa's first and only development university)
- Adamawa State Polytechnic
- The Modibbo Adama University Yola (MAU) previously known as Federal University of Technology, Yola, located about 10 km (6 mi) north of the city on the road to Mubi
- The Federal Government Girls College, Yola
- AUN Academy (ABTI Academy)
- Aliyu Mustapha Academy
- Chiroma Ahmad Academy
- Ahmadu Ribadu College
- MAUTECH university secondary school
- Concordia College (which was nominated as the best post-primary school for 2007 by the National Association of Nigerian Students)
Yola also houses one of the six campuses of the Nigerian Law school located beside the American University of Nigeria and many other educational institutions.
Virtual Tour, American University of Nigeria
Tourist Attractions
Yola has a rich diversity of cultures that are often manifested through numerous festivals. Yola is also a centre for the production of traditional arts and crafts which are available for purchase by tourists. These include decorated calabashes, leather products such as sandals, bags and puffs, as well as woven cloth, beads and woodworks.
Adamawa has one of the best depots in Nigeria, located about 5 km (3 mi) west on the road to Numan. Tourist sites include: The Three sister hills in Song Local Government Area, which are three scenic rock formations standing side by side at different height with the middle one as the big sister. The former Njuwa lake fishing festival site which is now dried and developed into residential area.
Perhaps, most important of all, Yola is the gateway to some of the most amazing natural and cultural wonders.
Adamawa is a state in the North-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered by Borno to the northwest, Gombe to the west, and Taraba to the southwest while its eastern border forms part of the national border with Cameroon. It takes its name from the historic emirate of Adamawa, with the emirate's old capital of Yola serving as the capital city of Adamawa State.
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