{"id":83578,"date":"2023-07-28T10:53:11","date_gmt":"2023-07-28T09:53:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buzznigeria.com\/?p=83578"},"modified":"2023-07-28T10:53:14","modified_gmt":"2023-07-28T09:53:14","slug":"list-of-local-governments-in-benue-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buzznigeria.com\/list-of-local-governments-in-benue-state\/","title":{"rendered":"List of Local Governments In Benue State"},"content":{"rendered":"

Benue State was created on 3 February 1976 and it is made up of 23 Local Governments, including the capital city, Makurdi. The local governments are further situated in the 3 senatorial districts of Benue – the “Food Basket of the Nation.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

The north-central state is made up of diverse ethnic groups known as Tiv, Idoma, and Igede. Benue State was carved out of Benue-Plateau and Kwara States; and gradually, the local governments within it started to form.<\/p>\n

Here is a list of all the Local Government Areas found in the state and their headquarters.<\/p>\n

How Many Local Governments are in Benue State?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are 23 local governments in Benue State and they are further divided into 276 wards. Going further, the local governments are grouped into 3 senatorial districts – Benue North (comprising of 9 local governments), Benue North-West (7 local governments), and Benue Zone A or Benue Northeast (7 local governments).<\/p>\n

These local governments hold the core of the state which was named after River Benue. It also serves as the home for one of Nigeria’s most famous languages, Tiv.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the state houses at least 10 ethnic groups. Some of them include Idoma, Jukun, Igede, and Igbo. People of these ethnic groups are found in different local government areas of the state.<\/p>\n

List of Local Governments in Benue State in Alphabetical Order<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1. Ado Local Government<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ado Local Government is one of the local governments found in Benue State. Its headquarters is located in the North-South region of Nigeria and on the railway line of Ado LGA.<\/p>\n

The local government was created in 1989<\/a>, 13 years after the creation of the State, and it is home to Idoma natives. It is one of the 9 councils under the southern senatorial district and it is made up of 5 council wards. The local government is famed for sharing boundaries with Ebonyi State as well as being known for its agricultural exploits.<\/p>\n

2. Agatu LGA<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Obagaji is the headquarters of the Agatu LGA in Benue State created in 1996. Agatu is located in the Southern Senatorial Zone of Benue State.<\/p>\n

The main tribe found in Agatu is Idoma. There are 10 wards found in the LGA and it is famous for being a highly agricultural-producing place in Nigeria. Some of its major products are yams and rice, and it produces over 80% of fish in Benue.<\/p>\n

3. Apa Local Government<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ugbokpo is the headquarters of Apa LGA. The Ugbokpo headquarters is located in the Northwestern region of the state capital, Makurdi.<\/p>\n

Apa was first created in 1981, was defunct in 1983, and was recreated in 1991. This Idoma-speaking community is rich in mineral resources such as gypsum, limestone, and salt.<\/p>\n

4. Buruku<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Buruku is one of the 23 local governments of Benue State formed in 1989. Its headquarters is in Buruku town and its address is in the riverine area of the Katsina-Ala Basin.<\/p>\n

The LGA was known as Ambighir during the Second Republic before it later stood on its own. The local government is one of the least populated places in Benue as it has slightly over 200,000 population in Nigeria’s last conducted census.<\/p>\n

Ethnic groups which can be found in Buruku are Tiv, Etulo, and Nyifon.<\/p>\n

5. Gboko LGA<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Gboko is the headquarters of Gboko Local Government Area in Benue State. It is located in the township area of the North-Central part of Benue State which is predominated by the Tiv people.<\/p>\n

Gboko is one of the largest LGAs in Benue as it has 17 council wards, 18 districts, and 2 council districts. Its size is 2,264 sq. km and it is known for housing Dangote Cement Plc.<\/p>\n

6. Guma<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In 1987, Guma Local Government Area was created and has its headquarters in Gbajimba. Gbajimba is located in the Benue Northwest senatorial district.<\/p>\n

Guma which was formerly a part of Makurdi has a landmass of 240,000 square KM. It has 10 council wards and its population is mostly Tiv people. Other tribes found in the LGA are Guma, Jukun, and Kabuwa.<\/p>\n

7. Gwer East<\/strong><\/h3>\n

With Aliade as the headquarters, there are a total of 14 council wards in Gwer East Local Government Area. The headquarters address is located at the Southwest of Tar-Tiv.<\/p>\n

The LGA was created by General Murtala Mohammed in 1976. Its landmass is 2,294 sq km and its main habitat is the Tiv and Igede people.<\/p>\n

8. Gwer West\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Gwer West has its headquarters in Naka in Benue State. The LGA was under Gwer East till 1991 and is located in the western region of Benue.<\/p>\n

The ethnic groups found in the LGA are Tiv and Idoma. The major occupation of the people is farming, trading, and fishing. Moreover, mineral resources such as salt, clay, limestone, and pyrite can be found in the local government.<\/p>\n

9. Katsina-Ala<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Katsina-Ala is one of the oldest LGAs in Benue and its headquarters is Katsina-Ala. It was created in 1976 and is located in the Northwest part of the State of Benue.<\/p>\n

The local government is famous as it was a major route used by the Royal Niger Company in the colonial era. The LGA which consists of 12 council wards is also known for its richness in agriculture.<\/p>\n

There are 2 major indigenous ethnic groups found in Katsina-Ala and they are Tiv and Etelo.<\/p>\n

10. Konshisha<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Tse-Agberagba is located in the North-East of Benue State as the headquarters of Konshisha LGA. It was initially a part of Vandeikya Local Government before it was carved out in 1983.<\/p>\n

Later, it was scrapped by the military and was remade as an LGA in 1989. Konshisha has 10.089 square kilometers of landmass and the ethnic groups found there are Tiv and Igede.<\/p>\n

11. Kwande<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Kwande is one of the Local Government Areas of Benue State. Its headquarters is located in the town of Adikpo, also called London by its inhabitants.<\/p>\n

The LGA has 15 council wards and a 2,744 Sq Km landmass. Its population is recorded to be over 345,000 at the 2006 census.<\/p>\n

12. Logo<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ugba is the headquarters of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State. It is located near Zor and Atamba and is predominated by Ugondo and Gaambe-Tiev groups.<\/p>\n

About its size by area, Logo is 1,408\u00a0km2<\/sup>. There are 10 council wards in the LGA and the major language spoken there is Tiv.<\/p>\n

13. Makurdi<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Local<\/p>\n

Makurdi is considered the most popular Local Government Area in Benue State. It is the capital city of Benue and its name is in synchrony with the headquarters of the local council. It is located in the southern region of the Benue River.<\/p>\n

14. Obi<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The headquarters of Obi Local Government is Obarike-Ito. Largely, the Igede ethnic group is found in the LGA and their main source of livelihood is farming.\u00a0 It is located in the South-Central region of Benue State and was created in 1996.<\/p>\n

15. Ogbadibo<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This LGA was created in 1991 with its headquarters located in Otukpa. The Otukpa Town is made up of three districts – Orokam, Owukpa, and Otukpa.<\/p>\n

Predominantly, the people of this LGA speak the Idoma language.<\/p>\n

16. Ohimini<\/strong><\/h3>\n

With 12 council wards, Ohimini has Idekpa-Okpiko located in the South-Eastern region as its headquarters. It was created 1996 and is popular for its flowing streams. Most of the Ohimini community is dominated by Idoma the people.<\/p>\n

17. Oju<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This LGA shares the same name with its headquarters. It was created in 1976 and is now regarded as one of the oldest LGAs in Benue State. It is mostly dominated by the Igede ethnic group.<\/p>\n

18. Okpokwu<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Okpoga is the headquarters of Okpokwu LGA and was created during Olusegun Obasanjo<\/a>‘s administration in 1976. The headquarters is located near Idobe and Idiri n Benue<\/p>\n

19. Otukpo<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Otukpo is one of the easily identifiable local governments in Benue State aside from Makurdi. It is known as the LGA of some of the most notable people from Benue such as 2Baba<\/a> and Senator David Mark<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The LGA shares the same name with its headquarters and it is mostly dominated by Idoma people.<\/p>\n

20. Tarka<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In 1996, Tarka Local Government Area was created and Wannune was made its headquarters. Located close to Gboko LGA and Yarogye in Benue, it is made up of ten council units.<\/p>\n

21. Ukum<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ukum is another LGA in Benue State and it is dominated by Tiv people. It was created in 1991 and has its headquarters in Sankara at the East-North of Benue State.<\/p>\n

22. Ushongo<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Lessel is the headquarters of the Ushongo local government in Benue State. The headquarters is located near the Mbayegh District. It was created in 1989 by the Ibrahim Babangida administration.<\/p>\n

23. Vandeikya<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Vandeikya, another prominent LGA in Benue was created out of Gboko Local Government in 1976. Its headquarters, Vandeikya is located in the South Eastern region of Benue State sharing borders with Obudu, Cross-River State.<\/p>\n

Which Local Government is the Biggest in Benue State?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The biggest Local Government in Benue State is Kwande and has its headquarters in Adikpo. The Local Government Area boasts a total landmass of 2,891 square kilometers.<\/p>\n

According to the 2006 National Population Census, it was gathered that the total population of people in Kwande LGA is 345,850. This population may have skyrocketed ever since.<\/p>\n

Surrounding the large landmass of Kwande local government are other local governments such as Katsina-Ala to the Northwest, Vandeikya LGA to the West, and Ushongo LGA on the North. At its borders are states like Cross-River, Akwa Ibom, Taraba, and Adamawa States.<\/p>\n

The Tiv people mostly occupy the area as the largest ethnic group in Benue state and the 6th largest in Nigeria.<\/p>\n

Natively, the farming community in Kwande produces crops such as Sweet potatoes, Groundnuts, Rice, Soya beans, and Cassava.<\/p>\n

Tiv Local Government in Benue State<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Tiv is not a local government. Rather, it is a renowned ethnic group in Benue. Tiv people can also be found in several other Nigerian states such as Taraba, Nassarawa, Cross-River, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. They also make up about 5% of Nigeria’s total population.<\/p>\n

In Benue, Tiv people dominate about 14 of the 23 LGAs. Here are the local governments dominated by Tiv people:<\/p>\n