Makurdi
| Makurdi | |
|---|---|
| Motto: Food Basket of the Nation | |
  Makurdi Location in Nigeria | |
| Coordinates: 7°43′50″N 8°32′10″E / 7.73056°N 8.53611°ECoordinates: 7°43′50″N 8°32′10″E / 7.73056°N 8.53611°E | |
| Country |
 Nigeria |
| State | Benue State |
| Climate | Aw |
Makurdi is the capital of the Benue state of Nigeria. The city is located in central Nigeria along the Benue River and holds the base for the Nigerian Air Force's MiG 21 and SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft squadrons. As of 2007, Makurdi had an estimated population of 500,797.[1]
Demographics
The major ethnic groups are the Tiv, Idoma and Igede.
Education
Makurdi is home to Benue State University and the Federal University of Agriculture.
Climate
| Climate data for Makurdi (1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 38.5 (101.3) |
39.0 (102.2) |
39.5 (103.1) |
39.0 (102.2) |
37.0 (98.6) |
34.0 (93.2) |
33.0 (91.4) |
32.0 (89.6) |
33.0 (91.4) |
34.0 (93.2) |
35.0 (95) |
36.0 (96.8) |
39.5 (103.1) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 34.8 (94.6) |
36.9 (98.4) |
37.0 (98.6) |
35.0 (95) |
32.6 (90.7) |
31.2 (88.2) |
30.0 (86) |
30.0 (86) |
30.7 (87.3) |
31.7 (89.1) |
33.5 (92.3) |
34.2 (93.6) |
33.1 (91.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.4 (79.5) |
28.5 (83.3) |
30.0 (86) |
29.2 (84.6) |
27.6 (81.7) |
26.4 (79.5) |
25.9 (78.6) |
25.8 (78.4) |
26.0 (78.8) |
26.4 (79.5) |
26.8 (80.2) |
25.2 (77.4) |
27.1 (80.8) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 18.4 (65.1) |
22.0 (71.6) |
24.7 (76.5) |
25.0 (77) |
23.6 (74.5) |
22.9 (73.2) |
22.5 (72.5) |
22.6 (72.7) |
22.3 (72.1) |
22.5 (72.5) |
20.3 (68.5) |
17.6 (63.7) |
22.0 (71.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 10.0 (50) |
12.0 (53.6) |
15.5 (59.9) |
20.0 (68) |
18.0 (64.4) |
18.5 (65.3) |
19.5 (67.1) |
19.5 (67.1) |
18.5 (65.3) |
19.5 (67.1) |
13.0 (55.4) |
8.5 (47.3) |
8.5 (47.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 3.7 (0.146) |
2.0 (0.079) |
30.7 (1.209) |
91.3 (3.594) |
166.2 (6.543) |
182.9 (7.201) |
212.4 (8.362) |
217.8 (8.575) |
218.1 (8.587) |
109.1 (4.295) |
1.8 (0.071) |
1.0 (0.039) |
1,237 (48.701) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 5.6 | 8.9 | 10.3 | 12.9 | 13.3 | 13.3 | 7.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 75.1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 15:00 LST) | 26.3 | 26.8 | 37.0 | 50.3 | 61.5 | 66.6 | 69.9 | 71.3 | 68.6 | 63.3 | 45.1 | 31.9 | 51.5 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 217.0 | 212.8 | 210.8 | 210.0 | 213.9 | 183.0 | 151.9 | 145.7 | 162.0 | 201.5 | 240.0 | 232.5 | 2,381.1 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 7.0 | 7.6 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 6.1 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 5.4 | 6.5 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 6.5 |
| Source #1: NOAA[2] | |||||||||||||
| Source #2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes and mean temperature)[3] | |||||||||||||
Transport
Makurdi is located on the banks of Benue River, a major tributary of the Niger River. It is also located on the main narrow gauge railway line running north from Port Harcourt, although this is not currently working. There are regular bus services linking Makurdi to neighbouring towns.
Until a road rail bridge was built in 1932, a train ferry was used to cross the Benue river.
Agriculture
The Benue State is predominantly an agricultural catchment area specialising in cash crops, subsistence crops, and a variety of potentials
Potentials
Benue State has huge potentials in human, capital, and material resource and a veritable source of raw materials for processing plants and manufacturing industries.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ "The World Gazetteer". Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
- ↑ "Makurdi Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
- ↑ "Klimatafel von Makurdi / Nigeria" (PDF). Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
- ↑ http://mikes.railhistory.railfan.net/r130.html
State capital: Makurdi | ||
| LGAs |  | |
| Settlements | ||