Niger! The Power State
Traveling to Niger State
The NYSC camp is located at; NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, (Former Abubakar, Dada Senior Secondary School), Paiko, Niger State.
Minna Airport in Minna serves air travellers coming into or going out of the state. The state is also accessible by road; buses mostly travel to Minna, the state capital.
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More on Niger State
Niger State is a state in Central Nigeria; the state capital is Minna and it is the largest state in the country.
It is bordered on to the south by the Niger River. It is also bordered by the states of Kebbi and Zamfara to the north, Kaduna to the north and northeast, Kogi to the southeast, and Kwara to the south. The Abuja Federal Capital Territory is on Niger state’s eastern border, and the Republic of Benin is its western border. Niger state is made up of 25 local government areas.
People and Culture
The three principal ethnic groups of the state are the Nupe, the Gwari and the Hausa. Other groups include the Koro, the Kadara, the Kambari, the Kamuku, the Pangu, the Bassa, the Bauchi, the Fulani, the Dukawa, the Gabo, the Godara, the Ganagana, the Mauchi, the Ayadi, the Ingwai, the Dido, the Kadanda, the Gulengi, the Abi Shiwa and the Shigini.
Most of the inhabitants are engaged in farming. Cotton, shea nuts, yams, and peanuts are cultivated both for export and for domestic consumption. Sorghum, millet, cowpeas, corn (maize), tobacco, palm oil and kernels, kola nuts, sugarcane, and fish are also important in local trade. Paddy rice is widely grown as a cash crop. Animal husbandry is also practised.
Geography and Climate
Niger State experiences distinct dry and wet seasons. The rainy seasons last for about 150 days in the northern parts to about 120 days in the southern parts of the State.
Generally, the land is arable and permits the cultivation of most of Nigeria’s staple crops and still allows sufficient opportunities for grazing, freshwater fishing and forestry development.
Notable Places
Niger State experiences distinct dry and wet seasons. The rainy seasons last for about 150 days in the northern parts to about 120 days in the southern parts of the State.
Generally, the land is arable and permits the cultivation of most of Nigeria’s staple crops and still allows sufficient opportunities for grazing, freshwater fishing and forestry development.
Interesting Fact
Niger State is referred to as the Power State because it is home to Kainji Dam whose hydroelectric power plant generates electricity for most Nigerian Cities.
Experiences of Corps Members that served in Niger State
Image Sources:
http://sweetcrudereports.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Paiko-Road-Police-Station-Round-About-Minna..jpg
https://i1.wp.com/tukool.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/benin-city.jpg?resize=960%2C602&ssl=1
Other Sources Referenced:
https://www.britannica.com/place/Niger-state-Nigeria
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niger_State