Nasarawa State

Nasarawa State is a state in North Central part of Nigeria.

Cities

• 1 Akwanga
• 2 Karu
• 3 Keffi
• 4 Lafia
• 5 Mararaba
• 6 Nasarawa
• 7 Wamba

Understand

The capital of this state is Lafia. Hausa is the dominant language in the state.

Geographically, the state is mostly within the tropical Guinean forest–savanna mosaic ecoregion. Important geographic features include the River Benue forming much of Nasarawa State's southern borders and the state's far northeast containing a small part of the Jos Plateau.

Nasarawa State is inhabited by various ethnic groups, including the Koro and Yeskwa in the far northwest; the Kofyar in the far northeast; the Eggon, Gwandara, Mada, Ninzo, and Nungu in the north; the Alago, Goemai, and Megili in the east; Eloyi in the south; the Tiv in the southeast; the Idoma in southwest; and the Gade and Gbagyi in the west while the Hausa and Fulani live throughout the state. Nasarawa is also religiously diverse as about 60% of the state's population are Muslim with around 30% being Christian and the remaining 10% following traditional ethnic religions.

Economically, Nasarawa State is largely based around agriculture, mainly of sesame, soybeans, groundnut, millet, maize, and yam crops. Other key industries are services, especially in urban areas, and the livestock herding and ranching of cattle, goats, and sheep. The state has been beset by violence at various points throughout its history, most notably the ongoing conflict between herders and farmers primarily over land rights.

Get in

By plane

There is no airport in Nasarawa.

By bus

There are various luxurious buses you can take to Nasarawa. Some of the popular ones are:

• Cross Country Limited, 18 Makurdi Road, Opp. Magoda Petrol Station, Lafia, ☏ +234 802 844 7950. (updated Dec 2021)
• ABC Transport, 60 Jos Road, Akwanga, ☏ +234 8061602875. (updated Dec 2021)
• Elsoag Business Resort, 19 Jos Road, Lafia. (updated Dec 2021)

Get around

• You can move around in Nasarawa by bus or cab. Bikes have been banned in the state.
• Tricycle can also be used. The state does not have functional lines.

See

Nasarawa State is home to the Farin Ruwa Falls in Wamba Local Government area of the state, northeast of Akwanga. Farin Ruwa falls is one of the highest falls in Africa (about 150 metres).

The Salt Village in the Keana Local Government Area of the State produces naturally iodized salt from the lake located nearby. The town is also one of the cradles of Alago civilization, one of the major ethnic groups in the state.

The Eggon Hills of the Eggon people near Nasarawa Eggon. These was the hills which the Eggon people had settled and established as an ancestral heritage as well. Tourists love to go hiking on this beautiful and high hill overlooking the Nasarawa Eggon local government and surrounding areas.

Another tourist site in Nasarawa State is the Maloney Hill.

Go next

• Abuja
• Plateau State
• Kaduna