Otukpo Local Government Area

Otukpo local government area and is also home to the Och’Idoma Palace. Otukpo Town is a metropolitan town and the most developed place in Idoma Land of Benue State, and the oldest in the area.

Headquarters:

Otukpo Town

Ethnic Composition:

Aside from Idoma people, there are communities of other Nigerian tribes such as:

  1. Hausa,
  2. Yoruba,
  3. Ibo and
  4. Tiv.

Most members of these communities have lived long enough in Otukpo Town and have made it their home thereby becoming Idoma through settlement.

Languages:

The people of the Otukpo local government area predominantly speak a dialect of Idoma language except for the Akpa people (found around Otobi – Allan axis) who speak Akweya language.

Boundaries:

Otukpo Local Government Benue boundaries

  1. To the North: Apa Local Government Area,
  2. To the South: Obi, Ado and Okpokwu Local Government Area,
  3. To the East: Gwer West Local Government Area, and Gwer East Local Government Areas, and
  4. To the West: Ohimini Local Government Area.

Otukpo Local Government Kogi State boundaries

  1. To the West by Ankpa local government area of Kogi State.

Religion:

Residents of Otukpo Town are predominantly Christians and Muslim but unlike other parts of Nigeria, followers of the two religions have lived together in peace hence the reputation of Otukpo Town as a peaceful and friendly place to live.

The people:

Otukpo Town is mainly inhabited by civil servants, it is also a vibrant commercial town. The main market attracts a huge number of traders and visitors from neighbouring towns and villages on a daily basis. Other commercial activities in the town include:

  1. Cottage sandal making industries,
  2. A rice mill,
  3. Restaurants, and
  4. Bars.

Agriculture produce:

  1. Rice production,
  2. Yam production,
  3. Cassava production,
  4. Guinea Corn production, and
  5. Maize production.

Mineral Resources:

The local government area has large reserves of kaolin with the potential for commercial exploration in addition to the large deposit of clay soil which has given risen to clay brick cottage industries in the area.

Other prominent places in Otukpo Local Government Area:

  1. Ogobia,
  2. Upu,
  3. Otukpoicho,
  4. Otobi,
  5. Adoka,
  6. Oyagede, and
  7. Akpa-Igede.

Transportation:

Road:

Otukpo is linked by road to the rest of the country via a trunk A road from:

  1. Enugu State to Makurdi Local Government Area

Road transportation to and from Otukpo Town is via commercial bus and taxi services.

Popular transport companies plying different routes to Otukpo Town include:

  1. Ageshi Transport,
  2. Silva Travel,
  3. Benue Links,
  4. Pleasure Travel,
  5. Ifesinachi,
  6. Calculux, and
  7. Boston Express.

Rail:

The Port Harcourt to Kaduna railway line also passes through Otukpo Town with a railway station in the town.

Banks:

Major commercial banks with branches in Otukpo include:

  1. First Bank,
  2. Agriculture,
  3. Co-operative Bank,
  4. Oceanic Bank,
  5. Intercontinental Bank,
  6. Unity Bank,
  7. Bank PHB,
  8. UBA, and
  9. Zenith Bank.

Explore more about Otukpo Local Government:

  1. Succession Chart of Otukpo Chief Executives