Guma Local Government Area

Guma, created out of the former Makurdi Local Government Area in 1987 by the then regime of Col. Fidelis A. Makka. The Local Government is name after ‘River Guma’ in Benue State.

Headquarters:

Gbajimba
(The name Gbajimba derived from Hausa word ‘Banjiba’ which means: ‘I don’t understand’. That Tiv people’s inability of pronoucing the word, change it to their ‘Gbajimba’).

Distance from Makurdi:

37km (An hour journey)

Boundaries:

  1. To the East: Logo Local Government Area
  2. To the South: Makurdi Local Government Area and Tarka Local Government Area
  3. To the West: Doma Local Government Area of Nassarawa State

Major Towns:

Gbajimba,

Daudu,

Torkula,

Kase-yough,

Abinsi:

Abinsi is a large, semi-urban community on the southern bank of the River Benue. The settlement was established as a river port during the colonial period, and was for a time the headquarters of the Benue province (which was moved to Makurdi in 1927); and later of the Tiv Division (moved to Gboko in 1932). It has a mixed population made up of Jukun, Tiv, Kabawa, Hausa and Ijaw along with some Ibo and Yoruba.

  1. The Jukun, Kabawa and Ijaw are mostly fishermen
  2. The Tiv predominantly farmers, and
  3. The Hausa, Yoruba and Ibo traders.

Despite its past prominence, Abinsi has an air of poverty and neglect.

Fish stocks have declined severely, and the main road to Makurdi now by-passes the community.

It’s only clinic dates from the 1920s.

The community relies on the river for its domestic water; and drainage, sanitation and refuse disposal arrangement are all poor.

Mbabegha Village:

Mbabegha is a farming village 8km from Gbajimba along an untarred seasonal road. Its scattered farmsteads are grouped around a central meeting place. This dispersed settlement pattern makes the provision of infrastructural facilities difficult.

Most of the inhabitants are Tiv farmers, but, while the land is fertile, the inaccessibility of the community makes it difficult to obtain fertilizer and other inputs, or to obtain good prices for produce.
The village has no clinic, secondary school or market.

  1. Agasha

Landmass:

240,000 square KM

Population:

By 2006 Census, the local government had a total population of 191,599 people.

People:

Though Guma local government is predominantly occupied by the Tiv people, other tribes too live in Guma, there are Jukun, Hausa, and Kabuwa.

Council wards or districts and Polling Units:

  1. Kaambe
  2. Abinsi
  3. Uvir
  4. Saghev
  5. Nzorov
  6. Nyiev
  7. Mbabai
  8. Mbayer or Yandev
  9. Mbawa, and
  10. Mbadwen

Guma local government has One Hundred and Sixty polling units.

Politically:

Guma shares a Federal House of Representative seat with Makurdi local government and has one seat House of Assembly seat. Guma people have a culture just like their Tiv brothers and sisters.

Major dance:

  1. Tsuwe-Tsele,
  2. Ajo, Ihanga and
  3. So many folk singers.

Markets:

  1. Gbajimba market,
  2. Daudu market,
  3. Agasha market,
  4. Abinsi market

Investment Opportunities

Natural Resources:

  1. Salt:
    Located at Mbadwem. It is currently taped locally and processed for domestic and industrial use. 
  2. Clay:
    Located at Mbabai. It is currently taped locally and processed for ceramics factory and burnt bricks.
  3. Zinc:
    Located at Mbadwem. Not taped but very useful for the production of roofing sheets.
  4. Byrite:
    Located at Uvir. Not taped but can be processed for export.

Agricultural Produce:

  1. Fish
    Located at Abinsi. Taped locally.
  2. Cassava
    Located at Nyiev. Not taped commercially and used for flour, starch.
  3. Ground nuts
    Located all over the local government. Not taped commercially and used for oil mills, animal feeds.
  4. Yams
    Located at Mbayer. Taped locally and used for yam flour.
  5. Sesame
    Located all over the local government. Taped locally and for export.
  6. Rice
    Located all over the local government. Taped locally for rice mills.
  7. Mellon
    Located at Uvir. Taped locally for oil mills.
  8. Soybeans
    Located at Nzorov. Taped commercially for oil mills, animal feeds and export.
  9. Vast Land
    Located all over the local government. Not taped for farming of cash crops.

Life Stock Farming:

There is also livestock farming which also feature prominently in Guma local government. Livestock like:

  1. Cattle
  2. Goats
  3. Sheep

For domestic and commercial purposes

Trading:

Trading is another feature in Guma local government as can be seen in and around the markets located in the area strategically.

Craftsmanship:

Crafts and blacksmith are known handiwork in the area. The people of Guma local government are known for the production of:

  1. How’s
  2. Arrows
  3. Cutlasses
  4. Axes and
  5. Knives

For domestic and commercial purposes.

Transportation:

Guma is served with roads linking most parts with the state capital, Makurdi and Nassarawa state.

Guma also makes use of water transport as river Gbajimba is linked with river Benue.

Explore more about Guma Local Government:

  1. Succession Chart of Guma Chief Executives