Borno State
Encyclopedia
Borno State is a state in north-eastern Nigeria
. Its capital is Maiduguri
. The state was formed in 1976 from the split of the North-Eastern State
. Until 1991 it contained what is now Yobe State
.
. There, the emirs of the former Kanem-Bornu Empire
have played a part in the politics of this area for nearly 1,000 years. The current dynasty gained control in the early nineteenth century and was supported by the British, who prevented a military defeat for the group and established a new capital for the dynasty at Maiduguri
or Yerwa (as referred to by the natives) in 1905, which remains the capital to this day. After Nigerian independence in 1960, Borno remained fairly autonomous until the expansion of the number of states in Nigeria to 12 in 1967. Local government reform in 1976 further reduced the power of the emirs of the former dynasty, and by the time of Nigeria's return to civilian rule in 1979, the emirs' jurisdiction has been restricted solely to cultural and traditional affairs. Today, the emirs still exist, and serve as advisers to the local government.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. Its capital is Maiduguri
Maiduguri
Maiduguri, also fondly called Yerwa by its locals, is the capital and the largest city of Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria. The city sits along the seasonal Ngadda River which disappears into the Firki swamps in the areas around Lake Chad...
. The state was formed in 1976 from the split of the North-Eastern State
North-Eastern State
North-Eastern State is a former administrative division of Nigeria. It was created on 27 May 1967 from parts of the Northern Region. It's capital was the city of Maiduguri.On 3 February 1976 it was divided into three states - Bauchi, Borno, and Gongola...
. Until 1991 it contained what is now Yobe State
Yobe State
Yobe State is a state located in Northern Nigeria. A mainly agricultural state, it was created on August 27, 1991. Yobe state was carved out of present-day Borno State. The capital of Yobe state is Damaturu.-Geography:...
.
Role of the emirs
The state is dominated by the Kanuri and Babur ethnic groups and also a few Shuwa arabs mainly descendants of Arab immigrants, and is an example of the endurance of traditional political institutions in some areas of AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. There, the emirs of the former Kanem-Bornu Empire
Kanem-Bornu Empire
The Kanem-Bornu Empire existed in modern Chad and Nigeria. It was known to the Arabian geographers as the Kanem Empire from the 9th century AD onward and lasted as the independent kingdom of Bornu until 1900. At its height it encompassed an area covering not only much of Chad, but also parts of...
have played a part in the politics of this area for nearly 1,000 years. The current dynasty gained control in the early nineteenth century and was supported by the British, who prevented a military defeat for the group and established a new capital for the dynasty at Maiduguri
Maiduguri
Maiduguri, also fondly called Yerwa by its locals, is the capital and the largest city of Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria. The city sits along the seasonal Ngadda River which disappears into the Firki swamps in the areas around Lake Chad...
or Yerwa (as referred to by the natives) in 1905, which remains the capital to this day. After Nigerian independence in 1960, Borno remained fairly autonomous until the expansion of the number of states in Nigeria to 12 in 1967. Local government reform in 1976 further reduced the power of the emirs of the former dynasty, and by the time of Nigeria's return to civilian rule in 1979, the emirs' jurisdiction has been restricted solely to cultural and traditional affairs. Today, the emirs still exist, and serve as advisers to the local government.
Local Government Areas
Borno State is divided into 27 Local Government Areas:- AbadamAbadamAbadam is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria, on the western coast of Lake Chad. Its headquarters are in the town of Malumfatori.It has an area of 3,973 km² and a population of 100,180 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 602....
- Askira/UbaAskira/UbaAskira/Uba is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Askira.It has an area of 2,362 km² and a population of 138,091 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 601....
- BamaBama, NigeriaBama is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Bama.It has an area of 4,997 km² and a population of 269,986 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 610....
- BayoBayo, NigeriaBayo is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Biriyel.It has an area of 956 km² and a population of 78,978 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 603....
- BiuBiu, NigeriaBiu is a town and a Local Government Area in southern Borno State of Nigeria. The town is the administrative center of the LGA. The town was once the capital of the Biu kingdom, and is now capital of the Biu Emirate...
- ChibokChibokChibok is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Chibok.It has an area of 1,350 km² and a population of 66,105 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 601....
- DamboaDamboaDamboa is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Damboa.It has an area of 6,219 km² and a population of 231,573 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 601....
- DikwaDikwa-History of Dikwa:Dikwa used to be part of the kingdom of Borno before being captured by Rabih in 1893. The latter had the place fortified and Dikwa became the capital of his kingdom from 1893 to 1900.In 1900, the French defeated Rabih and captured Dikwa...
- GubioGubioGubio is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Gubio.It has an area of 2,464 km² and a population of 152,778 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 602....
- GuzamalaGuzamalaGuzamala is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Gudumbali.It has an area of 2,517 km² and a population of 95,648 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 612....
- GwozaGwozaGwoza is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Gwoza.It has an area of 2,883 km² and a population of 276,312 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 610....
- HawulHawulHawul is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Azare.It has an area of 2,098 km² and a population of 120,314 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 603....
- JereJere, NigeriaJere is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Khaddamari.It has an area of 868 km² and a population of 211,204 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 600....
- KagaKaga, NigeriaKaga is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Benisheikh.It has an area of 2,700 km² and a population of 90,015 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 601....
- Kala/BalgeKala/BalgeKala/Balge is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Rann.It has an area of 1,896 km² and a population of 60,797 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 611....
- KondugaKondugaKonduga is a community in Borno State, Nigeria and the center of a Local Government Area of the same name about 25 km to the southeast of Maiduguri, situated on the north bank of the Ngadda River...
- KukawaKukawaKukawa is a town and Local Government Area in the northeastern Nigerian state of Borno, close to Lake Chad.The town was founded in 1814 as capital of the Kanem-Bornu Empire by the Muslim scholar and warlord Muhammad al-Amin al-Kanemi after the fall of the previous capital, Ngazargamu, conquered in...
- Kwaya KusarKwaya KusarKwaya Kusar is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Kwaya Kusar.It has an area of 732 km² and a population of 56,500 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 603.-References:...
- MafaMafaMafa is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Mafa.It has an area of 2,869 km² and a population of 103,518 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 611....
- MagumeriMagumeriMagumeri is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Magumeri.It has an area of 4,856 km² and a population of 140,231 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 602....
- MaiduguriMaiduguriMaiduguri, also fondly called Yerwa by its locals, is the capital and the largest city of Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria. The city sits along the seasonal Ngadda River which disappears into the Firki swamps in the areas around Lake Chad...
- MarteMarte, NigeriaMarte is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria, on the western coast of Lake Chad. Its headquarters are in the town of Marte.It has an area of 3,154 km² and a population of 129,370 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 611....
- MobbarMobbarMobbar is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Damasak.It has an area of 2,790 km² and a population of 116,654 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 602....
- MongunoMongunoMonguno is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Monguno.It has an area of 1,913 km² and a population of 109,851 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 612....
- NgalaNgalaNgala is a local government area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Gamboru Ngala.It has an area of 1,465 km² and a population of 237,071 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 611.- Geology :...
- NganzaiNganzaiNganzai is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Gajiram.It has an area of 2,467 km² and a population of 99,799 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 612....
- ShaniShani, NigeriaShani is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Shani.It has an area of 1,262 km² and a population of 102,317 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 603....
- Gwange Sabon Layi