Plateau State

Plateau State
Name	Plateau
Nickname	Home of Peace and Tourism
Coordinates	9°0′N 8°40′E
Capital	Jos
Largest city	Jos
Area km2	26929
Population estimate	3,500,000
Established	1976
Governor	Caleb Mutfwang

Plateau State Plateau State is a highland region in central Nigeria centered on the city of Jos. Renowned for its temperate Jos Plateau landscape, rich mineral resources and cultural diversity, the area has played a prominent role in interactions involving Hausa people, Berom people, Anglican Communion, Roman Catholic Church and various colonial and postcolonial administrations such as Lagos State-era authorities and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The state hosts medical, educational and research institutions connected to University of Jos and Jos University Teaching Hospital.

History

The precolonial era saw communities like the Berom people, Tarok people, Afizere people and Ngas people establish settlements on the Jos Plateau, interacting with nearby polities including the Hausa Kingdoms and the Borno Empire. Contact with European explorers and missionaries linked the plateau to networks involving Church Missionary Society, Roman Catholic missionaries and colonial agents under the British Empire. During the early 20th century the area became part of the Northern Nigeria Protectorate and later the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. After independence, administrative reorganizations resulted in the creation of states including Benue-Plateau State and, in 1976, the present entity formed during the regimes associated with Murtala Muhammed and Olusegun Obasanjo. Postcolonial decades included conflicts that drew attention from organizations such as the Red Cross and international observers during communal crises that also involved the National Human Rights Commission.

Geography and Climate

The state's defining feature is the Jos Plateau, a granitic massif giving rise to the temperate climate that contrasts with surrounding savanna that includes areas near Kafanchan and Pankshin. Elevations around Jos reach over 1,200 metres producing cooler temperatures and distinct vegetation zones with montane grassland and gallery forests near river systems that connect to the Benue River basin. Climate classification in localities approximates the Aw and Cwb types in global schemes referenced by agencies like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Geographic features include the Shere Hills, Assop Falls, and granite outcrops that attract geologists from institutions such as the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency and universities including Ahmadu Bello University. The state's mineral endowment includes deposits of tin and columbite, historically exploited by firms tied to colonial and multinational mining interests and regulated by agencies like the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (Nigeria).

Demographics

Population groups include the Berom people, Hausa people, Fulani people, Tiv people, Angas people and numerous smaller ethnolinguistic communities such as the Mwaghavul and Tarok people. Languages spoken encompass English language (official), Hausa language as a lingua franca, and numerous Plateau languages studied by scholars affiliated with the Summer Institute of Linguistics and departments at the University of Jos. Religious affiliations feature adherents of Christianity denominations like the Methodist Church Nigeria and Roman Catholic Church, alongside practitioners of Islam linked to organizations such as the Sultanate of Sokoto in regional networks. Urbanization centers include Jos, Bukuru, Pankshin and Mangu, each hosting markets, educational institutions and health facilities.

Economy

The economy historically rested on mining of tin and columbite, agricultural production of crops such as Irish potato and maize in highland farms, and trade in urban markets connected to routes involving Kaduna and Abuja. Agricultural research stations affiliated with the Institute for Agricultural Research and university departments support cash crops and horticulture. Recent diversification includes services, tourism and small-scale manufacturing, with investment interests from Nigerian conglomerates and development partners such as the World Bank and African Development Bank in infrastructure programs. Informal sectors and artisanal mining remain significant, with regulatory oversight linked to the Economic Community of West African States frameworks and national agencies addressing environmental and occupational concerns.

Government and Politics

Administratively the state is divided into Local Government Areas including Jos North, Jos South, Bassa, Bokkos and Pankshin Local Government Area; the executive is headed by the governor, currently Caleb Mutfwang, operating within constitutional arrangements of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Political life involves national parties such as the People's Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress, and institutions like the Independent National Electoral Commission oversee elections. Security coordination has involved the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army units, and federal agencies during periods of communal tension, while conflict resolution efforts have engaged civil society organizations, faith leaders from the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council and mediation supported by entities like the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.

Culture and Tourism

Cultural expression is visible in festivals, crafts and music tied to communities such as the Berom people and Angas people, with events hosted in towns like Jos and Bukuru. Attractions include the Jos Museum, the Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve, colonial-era architecture and the scenic Shere Hills, drawing visitors facilitated by tour operators and hospitality businesses from regions including Abuja and Kaduna State. Culinary traditions feature local staples sold at markets comparable to those in Kano and Enugu, while crafts such as pottery and weaving connect artisans to national fairs and museums such as the National Museum, Lagos.

Infrastructure and Transportation

Transport networks consist of road corridors linking to Abuja via the A234-class routes and to regional centres including Kaduna and Makurdi, with rail projects proposed in national plans involving the Nigerian Railway Corporation. Power, water and health infrastructure include utilities and facilities supported by agencies like the Rural Electrification Agency and international donors; tertiary institutions such as the University of Jos and Jos University Teaching Hospital contribute to services delivery. Airport services operate from Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos with connections to domestic hubs; ongoing projects feature highways and rural access efforts coordinated with federal ministries and development banks.

Category:States of Nigeria