Benue State

Benue
State
Sunset at River Benue
Flag Seal
Nicknames:  Food Basket of the Nation
Location of Benue State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 7°20′N 8°45′E
Country	Nigeria
LGAs	23
Date created	3 February 1976
Capital	Makurdi
Government
• Body	Government of Benue State
• Governor	Hyacinth Alia (APC)
• Deputy Governor	Samuel Ode (APC)
• Legislature	Benue State House of Assembly
• Senators	NE: Hon. Emmanuel Udende (APC) NW: Titus Zam (APC) S: Patrick Abba Moro (PDP)
• Representatives	List
Area
• Total	34,059 km2 (13,150 sq mi)
• Rank	11th of 36
Population  (2006 Census)
• Total	4,253,641
• Estimate  (2022)	6,141,300
• Rank	7th of 36
• Density	124.89/km2 (323.46/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
• Year	2021 (estimate)
• Total	$27.64 billion 12th of 36
• Per capita	$4,141 16th of 36
Time zone	UTC+01 (WAT)
ISO 3166 code	NG-BE
HDI (2022)	0.582 medium · 19th of 37

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Benue is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria. It is popularly referred to as part of the Middle Belt. It has an estimated population of about 4,253,641 in the 2006 census. The state was created in 1976 and was among the seven states created at that time. The state derives its name from the Benue River initially called Ber-nor, a compound word in Tiv language which means river or lake of hippopotamus (Ber meaning river or lake, while nor is the name for hippopotamus) the name Ber-nor was corrupted to BENUE by colonial masters, the river is the second largest river in Nigeria after the River Niger. The state borders Nasarawa State to the north; Taraba State to the east; Kogi State to the west; Enugu State to the south-west; Ebonyi and Cross River State to the south; and has an international border with Cameroon to the south-east. It is inhabited predominantly by the Tiv, Idoma and Igede people. Minority ethnic groups in Benue are Etulo, Hausa and Jukun people etc. Its capital is Makurdi. Benue is a rich agricultural region; common crops cultivated in the state include oranges, yams, mangoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, soya bean, guinea corn, flax, sesame, rice, groundnuts and palm trees.