Description of Kogi state

Kogi State is located in Nigeria's North Central region and shares borders with the states of Ekiti and Kwara to the east, the Federal Capital Territory to the north, Nasarawa State to the northeast, Niger State to the northwest, Edo and Ondo to the southwest, Anambra and Enugu to the southeast, and Benue State to the west. Kogi State, so called after the Hausa word for river, was established on August 27, 1991, from territory previously belonging to Benue State, Niger State, and Kwara State. Lokoja, the state capital, is located near the junction of the Niger and the Benue rivers, hence the state's alternative name, "Confluence State."

Kogi is the twenty-first most populated of Nigeria's 36 states, with a 2016 estimate of just under 4.5 million people.

The state is located in the forest-savanna mosaic ecoregion of tropical Guinea. The Niger River comes in from the northwest, and the Benue River comes in from the northeast; the two rivers meet in the middle of Kogi, and then they run south to divide the state in two.

The Ebira, Gbagyi, and Nupe (mostly the Bassa Nge, Kakanda, and Kupa subgroups) live in the state's central region; the Agatu, Basa-Komo, Idoma, Igala, and Igbo live in the east; and the Yoruba (primarily the Okun, Ogori, Oworo, and Magongo subgroups) live in the west. About 45% of Kogi's people are Muslims, 40% are Christians, and the remaining 15% adhere to traditional ethnic religions of the state's minority. 

The Kogi state capital is located in the middle of Nigeria. Parts of Kwara State to the east and Benue State to the west were merged to form this state in 1991. To the northeast is Nassawara, to the east is Benue, to the south is Enugu, Anambra, and Delta, to the west is Ondo, and to the north is Niger. To the north, Kogi is bordered by Abuja Federal Capital Territory.

The state is split in two by the south-flowing Niger River, which flows through a wooded savanna region; the Benue River, a significant tributary of the Niger, flows through the state's northeastern corner. East of the Niger River is home to the Igala people, whereas west of the river is where you'll find the Igbira and Yoruba. The agricultural sector is crucial to the economy. Yams, cassava (manioc), rice, sorghum, beans, corn (maize), and cotton are among the most widely cultivated crops. In addition, fishing in rivers is crucial. Okaba fields on the northern Udi-Nsukka Plateau, east of the Niger River, are mined for national distribution of coal. The Agbaja Plateau, located north of the state capital of Lokoja, contains Nigeria's largest iron ore deposit. Jakura, located twenty miles (thirty two kilometers) to the northwest of Lokoja, is a major marble quarry and lime production center. There is a large steel mill in Ajaokuta. Located on the western bank of the Niger River, the cities of Abuja and Benin City may be reached by road from Lokoja. Idah, located on the Niger's eastern bank, is an important commercial and ferry hub.

Located on the western bank of the Niger River, opposite the mouth of the Benue River, is the state capital of Kogi, Nigeria. Lokoja is also a major river port. In the late 1850s, British merchants set up shop near the junction of the Benue and Niger rivers, and in 1860, Scottish explorer William Balfour Baikie built the city of Lokoja. Not only was this location chosen as the location of the first British consulate in the interior (1860-69) and the military headquarters for Sir George Goldie's Royal Niger Company (RNC), but it was also ceded to the British in 1841 by the ata [king] of Idah, located 50 miles [80 km] to the south (1886–1900). Lokoja, once the capital of Kabba province, was a part of Kwara from 1967 until 1991, when it became the capital of the newly constituted state of Kogi.

The modern city serves as a hub for the collection of cotton, leather, palm oil, and palm kernels before they are transported to the Niger delta ports of Burutu and Warri. Yams, cassava (manioc), corn (maize), sorghum (a type of grain), beans, fish, palm produce, shea nuts, and cotton are all produced by the local Igbira, and the town serves as a major trading hub for all of these goods. During the dry season, Fulani herders from the north herd their cattle across the Niger River and into Lokoja. The local economy is heavily dependent on the processing of cotton, palm kernels, and shea nuts. Mount Patti, the ancient location of Lokoja, stands 1,349 feet (411 meters) tall and is composed of oolitic iron ore. Lokoja provides ferry service across the Niger River and is located on the local highway between Kabba and Ayangbe.

Geography

A typical annual rainfall total for the state is between 1,100 and 1,300 millimeters. There is a distinct wet and dry season every year, with the former spanning from April to October and the latter from November to March. The north-easterly winds that usher in the harmattan make the dry season extremely dusty and chilly.

Economy

Crops including coffee, cashews, groundnuts, cocoa, oil palm, and yam are crucial to the economy of Kogi State. Cattle, goats, and sheep herding are also important, along with the extraction of crude oil. Human development indicators and gross domestic product both rank Kogi as the 23rd best in the country.

The agricultural sector is crucial to the economy. The state's agriculture sector produces a wide variety of goods, including coffee, cocoa, palm oil, cashews, groundnuts, maize, cassava, yam, rice, and melon.

Coal, limestone, iron, petroleum, and tin are all useful minerals. The Obajana Cement Factory is the largest cement factory in Africa, while the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited is Nigeria's largest iron and steel company.