Yobe State

Yobe state is found in the Northeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria and shares borders with states such as Bauchi, Borno, Gombe and Jigawa. The state’s capital is in Damaturu while other prominent towns include Potiskum, Gulani, Fika, and Bade.

The dominant tribes in Yobe state include the Kanuri, Hausa, Shuwa, Fulani and the Bade. Yobe state has a total of 17 LGAs which include Bade, Bursari, Damaturu, Geidam, Gujba, Gulani, Fune, Jakusko, Karasuwa, Machina, Nangere, Nguru, Potiskum, Taruwa, Yunusari, and Yusufari with an estimated total population of about  2,321,591 inhabitants. Islam is the most widely practiced religion in Yobe state.Tertiary Institutions found in Yobe state include the Yobe state University, Federal Polytecnic Damaturu, Federal College of Education (Technical) Potiskum, Mai Idris Aloma Polytechnic Geidam, Umar Suleiman College of Education Gashua, Federal University Gashua, Shehu Sule School of Nursing and Midwifery Damaturu, College of Agriculture Gujba, School of Health Technology Tech Nguru, Atiku Abubakar College of Legal and Islamic studies, College of Administration and Business studies, and the Jibwis College of Arabic and Islamic Education Potiskum.    

Ethnic groups that are found in Yobe state include the Kanuri, Fulani, Karekare, Bade, Hausa, and Ngamo while important festivals in Yobe state include the Bade Fishing and cultural festival, the Barakau festival, the Durbar festival, and the Kamti festival. Notable landmarks in Yobe state include the Dufuna Canoe, Bula Tura Oases, Dokshi Spring, Dogona Birds Sanctuary, Birnin Ngazagamu, Tulo Tulowa, Old Daniski Settlement, and the Daura Old settlement.  

YOBE STATE GOVERNOR

The Governor of Yobe State is Ibrahim Geidam.

YOBE STATE SLOGAN

Pride of the Sahel

GEOGRAPHY OF YOBE STATE

Yobe state is in the dry savanna belt and is largely hot and dry. Yobe state has a total area of 45,502 km squared with average precipitation at 850mm per annum.

The weather in Yobe state is generally hot with the average temperature at 34 degrees centigrade while the dry season lasts for much longer than the rainy season.

ECONOMY OF YOBE STATE

Agriculture is the major economic engagement in Yobe state with crops produced including gum Arabic, groundnuts, beans, cotton.Trade also blossoms in Yobe state with the state playing host to several markets which include the Potiskum Cattle market, Geidam market, Dapchi market, Kukareta market, Garin Alkali market, Babbanngida market, and the Nguru market.  

Animal rearing is also a very popular enterprise in Yobe state with the cattle market in Potiskum famed as the largest in Nigeria. Yobe state also has some mineral deposits which include gypsum, Potash, Kaolinite, Gravel, Silica, Sand, Limestone, Iron Ore, Eposomite, Marl, Uranium, Bentonite, Amethyst, and Trona.

HISTORY OF YOBE STATE

Yobe state was created in Aug 1991 from Borno state under the military administration of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. Past Governors/administrators of the state include

Sani Daura Ahmed- 1991-1992

Bukar Abba Ibrahim- 1992-1993

Dabo Aliyu- 1993-1996

John Ben Kalio- 1996-1998

Musa Mohammed- 1998-1999

Bukar Abba Ibrahim- 1999-2007

Mamman Bello Ali- 2007-2009

Ibrahim Geidam - 2009 to date.