Mind Blowing Facts About The Northern Nigeria

Introduction

Northern Nigeria was an autonomous division within Nigeria, distinctly different from the southern part of the country, with independent customs, foreign relations and security structures. In 1962 it acquired the territory of the British Northern Cameroons, which voted to become a province within Northern Nigeria.

In 1967, Northern Nigeria was divided into the North-Eastern State, North-Western State, Kano State, Kaduna State, Kwara State, and the Benue-Plateau State, each with its own Governor.

Northern Nigeria is a region situated towards the north side of Nigeria. Interestingly, these regions possess certain characteristics that differentiate them from other regions of the country and the world at large. These differences span the lifestyle of its inhabitants, historical features, and happenings that took place in this region.

Mind-blowing facts about Northern Nigeria

• The North occupies 80% of Nigeria’s landmass, it’s four times larger than the South.
• Northern Nigeria is the most endowed region in the country with many tourist attractions. This includes the Emir Palace in Kano, Chappal Waddi in Taraba, Yankari Game Reserve, and much more.
• In 1967, Northern Nigeria was broadly divided Into North—Eastern States, North-Western States, Kano State, Kaduna State, Kwara States, and the Benue—Plateau State, each with its own Governor.
• The northern part of Nigeria is known for its primary export of goods from historical times. Most especially, leather, gold, salt, clothes, kola nuts, and animal hides.
• Some of the current states once existed as Kingdom long before now like Kano, Katsina, and Zazzau (Zaria)
• Northern Nigeria gained self-government on 15 March 1957 with Sir Ahmadu Bello as its first premier.
• The main source of revenue for Northern Nigeria is cotton and groundnut industries, tin and steel mining while Cement industries and leather processing industries constitute the main manufacturing sector of the North.
• Northern Nigeria although religiously and ethnically diverse has its majority of Muslims, especially the Hausa-speaking tribe.
• Northern Nigeria comprises 19 states. North Central – Benue, FCT, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau. North East – Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe. North West – Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa,, Zamfara.
• The Kumbwada Kingdom in Niger State is the only part of Northern Nigeria where only females can rule, an ancient curse keeps men off the throne.
• One of the largest cities in Africa is located in the north—Kano state.
• Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Adamawa and Plateau states have the highest populations of Christians in Northern Nigeria
• Historically, “Kusugu Well” in Daura once had a giant snake that prevented residents from fetching water on specific days of the week. Fortunately, it was killed by Bayajidda during the reign of Queen Daurama.
• Katsina Teachers College was the first higher learning institution established in Northern Nigeria in the year 1923.
• Borno is the second largest state in Nigeria in terms of landmass( 72, 609square kilometres)
• There are descendants of the Arab people in Borno state known as shuwa Arabs
• Current Yobe state emerged from Borno state.
• The popularly known Chad Basin National Park is located in Borno state. The park has a total area of about 2,258 km2.
• Northern Nigeria states are vast in agricultural practices due to abundant fertile land and favourable climate compared with other regions.
• Kaduna state was named by General Murtala Muhammad in 1976.
• In the North, the most prestigious learning institutions are concentrated in Kaduna state. This includes Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria Defense Academy, Air Force Institution of Technology and more
• The NOK Culture appeared in northern Nigeria around 1000 BCE and vanished under unknown circumstances around 500 CE, thus having lasted for approximately 1,500 years.
• The largest wildlife park in Nigeria is found in the North—Gashaka Gumti in Taraba state.
• Antiquities from the Ancient Nok civilization can be found in galleries and museums across the world up to date.
• One of the largest cattle markets in West Africa is located in Jigawa state—Maigatari international cattle market which supplies about 2 million stock of cattle during weekly trade.
• Niger state houses the three major hydroelectric power stations in Nigeria namely: Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro stations respectively.
•  Niger state is the largest state in Nigeria based on the landmass, approximately 8.6 million hectares.
• Interestingly, the famous River Niger is located in Niger State.
• The oldest museum in Nigeria is situated in Northern Nigeria, Jos, Plateau state. The Jos Museum was established in 1952 by Bernard Fagg.
• The warrior Queen Amina of Zazzau was known for building walls around every territory she conquered.
• The second largest University in Africa is found in Northern Nigeria known as Ahmadu Bello University Zaria founded in the year 1962.
• Lokoja was the first administrative centre of Nigeria because it was the first settlement of the British in Nigeria.
• The Hausa movie industry is popularly known as Kannywood and Rahama Sadau is the first northern actress ever to be featured in Nollywood Movies
• In Northern Nigeria, Eid Kabir also known as ‘Babban Sallah’ or ‘Sallan Layya’ is celebrated by Muslims.
• The name Nigeria was derived from the northern region coined in Lokoja, Kogi state. It was named by Flora
• Shaw when she gazed at the magnificent River Niger at Lokoja.
• Kogi state in North Central is a junction state that leads to about 10 states within Nigeria.
• The two greatest Rivers that cut across Nigeria are located in the North—River Niger and River Benue.
• One of the highest waterfalls in Africa known as Farin Ruwa is found in Nasarawa State.
• Africa’s oldest known boat ‘Dufuna Canoe’ is found in Nasarawa State
• The biggest Game Reserve in West Africa is found in Northern Nigeria -Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi.
• Zamafara state was the first state in Nigeria to adopt Sharia Law, an Islamic legal system.