75-568: The Middle Belt (also spelt Middle-Belt ) or Central Nigeria is a term used in human geography to designate a belt region stretching across central Nigeria longitudinally and forming a transition zone between Northern and Southern Nigeria. It is composed of the southern half of the defunct Northern Region of Nigeria, now comprising mostly the North Central and parts of the North East and North West geopolitical zones , and
150-602: A centre for ethno-religious disputes and violence since the 1990s. The Jos Forum Inter-Communal Dialogue process spanned 16 months from August 2013 - December 2014, and refers to a peace process undertaken by communities living in Jos that concluded in a “Declaration of Commitment to Peace”. In 2018 violence escalated, with battles for scarce resources leading to over 500 deaths and 50 towns being destroyed. The clashes were largely between Muslim Fulani pastoralists and Christian Berom farmers. Over 300,000 people have been displaced by
225-668: A comprehensive understanding of the intricate connections that shape lived spaces. The Roll Geographical Society was founded in England in 1830. The first professor of geography in the United Kingdom was appointed in 1883, and the first major geographical intellect to emerge in the UK was Halford John Mackinder , appointed professor of geography at the London School of Economics in 1922. The National Geographic Society
300-447: A non-verbal form of communication that is universal. This dates back to Darwin's theory of emotion , which explains the evolutionary development of expressed emotion. This aids individual and societal relationships as there is the presence of emotional communication. For example, when studying social phenomena, individuals' emotions can connect and create a social emotion which can define the event happening. Medical or health geography
375-404: A perceived lack of scientific rigor in an overly descriptive nature of the discipline, and a continued separation of geography from its two subfields of physical and human geography and from geology , geographers in the mid-20th century began to apply statistical and mathematical models in order to solve spatial problems. Much of the development during the quantitative revolution is now apparent in
450-586: A population of 10,000 to 19,000 people and includes, Lessel, Ihugh , Naka , Adoka, Aliade, Okpoga, Igumale , Oju , Utonkon, Ugbokolo, Wannune, Ugbokpo, Otukpa , Ugba and Korinya. Most of these towns are headquarters of recently created Local Government Areas and/or district headquarters or major market areas. Some of the headquarters of the newly created LGAs have populations of less than 10,000 people. Such places include Tse-Agberaba, Gbajimba, Buruku , Idekpa, Obagaji and Obarikeito. Apart from earth roads, schools, periodic markets and chemists (local drug stores),
525-567: A settlement is positioned relative to the physical environment) and situation (how a settlement is positioned relative to other settlements). Another area of interest is the internal organization of urban areas with regard to different demographic groups and the layout of infrastructure. This subdiscipline also draws on ideas from other branches of Human Geography to see their involvement in the processes and patterns evident in an urban area . Subfields include: Economic geography , Population geography , and Settlement geography . These are clearly not
600-495: A tremendous degree of ethno-linguistic diversity. Afro-Asiatic , Nilo-Saharan , and Niger–Congo languages are all spoken, which are three of the primary African language families. In the 1920s, it was described by Melzian (1928:496) as the "Middle Zone". Some scholars argue that rather than a simple geographic definition, the Middle Belt represents a religious and cultural amalgamation of non-Hausa Christians. As to what
675-471: A variety of academic journals. Whilst human geography is interdisciplinary, there are a number of journals that focus on human geography. These include: Benue State Benue State is one of the North Central states in Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in the 2006 census . The state was created in 1976 and was among the seven states created at that time. The state derives its name from
750-409: Is characterised by its lack of a clear majority ethnic group. It is also the location of Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory . The eminence of manifold minority groups, to some degree, constitutes an ethno-linguistic barrier in the country and draws a separation between the principally Muslim North and the mainly Christian south. The region is a convergence of these cultural domains and maintains
825-680: Is encountered. Here, the terrain is characterised by steep slopes, deep incised valleys and generally rugged relief. Elsewhere, gradients average less than 4°. River Benue is the dominant geographical feature in the state. It is one of the few large rivers in Nigeria. The Katsina-Ala is the largest tributary, while the smaller rivers include Mkomon , Amile , Duru , Loko Konshisha , Kpa , Okpokwu , Mu , Be , Aya , Apa Ogede and Ombi . The flood plains which are characterised by extensive swamps and ponds are good for dry season irrigated farming. Though Benue State has high drainage density many of
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#1732772211123900-751: Is no dominant ethnic group, but among the larger groups as of 1991 are: Tiv 5.1 million, Nupe 1.8 million. These ethnic groups are represented by advocacy organizations such as CONAECDA . Minorities in Nigeria tend to be dominated by the three largest ethnic groups, the Hausa of the North, the Yoruba of the Southwest and the Igbo of the Southeast. Surrounded by divergent religious, economic, and cultural histories,
975-516: Is still a challenge. Important cash crops include soybeans , rice, peanuts, mango varieties , citrus , etc. Other cash crops include palm oil , melon, African pear , chili pepper , tomatoes etc. Food crops include Yam , Cassava , Sweet potato , Beans , Maize, Millet , Guinea corn , Vegetables etc. There is very little irrigation agriculture and techniques. Animal production includes: Cattle, Pork, Poultry and Goat but no dairy and dairy products yet. The Zaki Ibiam International Yam Market
1050-445: Is the application of geographical information, perspectives, and methods to the study of health , disease , and health care . Health geography deals with the spatial relations and patterns between people and the environment. This is a sub-discipline of human geography, researching how and why diseases are spread and contained. Historical geography is the study of the human, physical, fictional, theoretical, and "real" geographies of
1125-515: Is the biggest market for a single product in Nigeria. Banking services are available as all the banks in Nigeria have branches in the state, with the Central Bank of Nigeria having its regional headquarters in Makurdi. Dangote Cement Company is a private company that operates within the state and provides a little employment to the people. This is a rough estimated employment percentage in
1200-462: Is the study of urban and rural areas with specific regards to spatial, relational and theoretical aspects of settlement. That is the study of areas which have a concentration of buildings and infrastructure . These are areas where the majority of economic activities are in the secondary sector and tertiary sectors . Urban geography is the study of cities, towns, and other areas of relatively dense settlement. Two main interests are site (how
1275-496: Is the study of the Earth's geography with reference to the standard of living and the quality of life of its human inhabitants, study of the location, distribution and spatial organization of economic activities, across the Earth. The subject matter investigated is strongly influenced by the researcher's methodological approach. Economic geography examines relationships between human economic systems, states, and other factors, and
1350-549: Is −0.08% lower than Nigeria's averages. The state receives about 135.2 millimeters (5.32 inches) of precipitation and has 160.01 rainy days (43.84% of the time) annually. Based on Köppen climate classification , Benue State lies within the AW climate and experiences two distinct seasons, the Wet season and the Dry season . The rainy season lasts from April to October with annual rainfall in
1425-590: The 2006 census , with an average population density of 99 persons per km . This makes Benue the 9th most populous state in Nigeria. However, the distribution of the population according to Local government areas shows marked duality. There are areas of low population density, such as Guma , Ohimini , Tarka, Apa , Logo and Agatu , each with less than seventy persons per km , while Vandeikya , Ukum, Kwande, Otukpo, Okpokwu , and Gboko have densities ranging from 160 persons to 200 persons per km . Makurdi LGA has over 380 persons per km2. The males are 49.8 percent of
1500-581: The Archdiocese of Abuja : The Anglican Province of Abuja in the Church of Nigeria includes the Dioceses of Makurdi (1990) with 25 parishes led by Bishop Nathan Inyom (1990), Gboko (2009) led by Bishop Emmanuel Nyitsse , and Otukpo (1996) led by Bishop David Bello (2004). The N.K.S.T. Church is another major church in the state. The headquarters is at Mkar, Gboko . It is the first church in
1575-567: The Benue River initially called Ber-nor , a compound word in Tiv language which means river or lake of hippopotamus ( ber meaning river or lake, while nor is the name for hippopotamus) the name Ber-nor was corrupted to BENUE by colonial masters, the river is the second largest river in Nigeria after the River Niger . The state borders Nasarawa State to the North; Taraba State to
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#17327722111231650-514: The Benue River was adopted. Benue State is named after the Benue River and was formed from the former Benue-Plateau State in 1976, along with Igala and some part of Kwara State . In 1991, some areas of Benue state (mostly the Igala -speaking area), along with areas in Kwara State , were clubbed together to form the new Kogi State . Igbo people are found in the boundary areas like
1725-578: The Federal Capital Territory , alongside Southern Kaduna , Southern Bauchi , Southern Kebbi , Southern Gombe , Southern Yobe State and Southern Borno , all culturally considered as part of the Middle Belt. The yearnings for the creation of the Middle Belt region in Nigeria had been a burning issue, as even groups like the United Middle-Belt Youth Congress (UMYC) demand for a separate identity from
1800-859: The Obi , Oju and Ado Local Government Areas. It is known as the "Heartbeat of the Middle Belt" and the "Entertainment Capital of the Middle Belt " north of the Niger River . Otukpo , the Idoma people's traditional and administrative capital, is also known as the Lion's Heart and the Land of the Brave. Benue State, which is located in the North Central region of Nigeria , has a total population of 4,253,641 in
1875-673: The Tiv and idoma people are farmers while the inhabitants of the river areas engage in fishing as their primary or important secondary occupation. The people of the state are famous for their cheerful and hospitable disposition as well as rich cultural heritage. Benue State consists of twenty-three (23) Local Government Areas and the Tiv occupy 14, the Idoma occupy 7, the Igede occupy 2 . They are: The Benue State Government accords high respect to traditional rulers in recognition of their role as custodians of culture and as agents of development. Also, their roles in enhancing peace and order at
1950-761: The Tiv , 7 for the idoma and 2 for the igede . Senatorial Zone A has; Tiv in all 7 local governments. The Etulo have a small community in Katsina Ala The hausa have small communities in Katsina Ala and Zaki biam Senatorial zone B has; Tiv in all 7 local governments The Etulo and Nyifon have small communities in Buruku . The Jukun community is along the river bank at Abinsi village in Makurdi local government. The hausa have 2 large communities in Makurdi city . They live in
2025-575: The Tor Tiv (Tiv King) as chairman of all the traditional rulers from the Tiv dominant Local Government Areas, while the latter has the Och' Idoma ( Idoma king) as the chairman of all the traditional rulers from the Idoma dominant Local Government Areas. The State Council of Chiefs has the Tor Tiv, Orchivirigh Professor James Ayatse (Tor Tiv V) ( ), with Och'Idoma and all second class Chiefs/Chairmen of
2100-635: The environment around them. Firstly, there is a difference between emotional and affectual geography and they have their respective geographical sub-fields. The former refers to theories of expressed feelings and the social constructs of expressed feelings which can be generalisable and understood globally. The latter refers to theories underlying inexpressible feelings that are independent, embodied, and hard to understand. Emotional geography approaches geographical concepts and research from an expressed and generalisable perspective. Historically, emotions have an ultimate adaptive significance by accentuating
2175-458: The "North" by the creation of the Middle Belt region as a federal unit within Nigeria. The population of the Middle Belt as of 1991, was about 17.3 million but now predicted to be over 45 million people living in the middle belt region, with a predominant Christian population of 65%, Muslim population of 25% and Animist population of 10% of the total population. The Middle Belt consists of many ethnic groups speaking over 230 languages. There
2250-757: The East; Kogi State to the West; Enugu State to the South-West; Ebonyi and Cross-Rivers State to the South; and has an international border with Cameroon to the South-East . It is inhabited predominantly by the Tiv , Idoma and Igede people. Minority ethnic groups in Benue are Etulo , Igbo , hausa and Jukun people etc. Its capital is Makurdi . Benue is a rich agricultural region; common crops cultivated in
2325-552: The Local Government Traditional Council as members. Benue State possesses a rich and diverse cultural heritage which finds expression in colourful cloths, exotic masquerades, supplicated music and dances. Traditional dances from Benue State have won acclaim at national and international cultural festivals. The most popular of these dances include Ingyough , Ange , Anchanakupa , Swange and Ogirinya among others. The socio-religious festivals of
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2400-741: The Makurdi Club, Railway Club, Police Club and Air Force Club, where, apart from the sale of drinks and snacks, various types of games are played. There is a standard Arts Theatre, a modern Sports Complex which includes the Aper Aku Stadium , which has provisions for such games as tennis, basketball, volleyball and handball, an indoor sports hall and Olympic size swimming pool in Makurdi. Smaller stadia exist in Gboko (J. S. Tarka Stadium), Katsina-Ala , Adikpo , Vandeikya and Otukpo . The BCC Lawn Tennis tournament attracts players from all over
2475-684: The Middle Belt has been the melting pot where small and large ethno-religious groups in Nigeria have long coexisted, but where they have also increasingly collided over land, resources, identity and political power. The result is a mixture of recurring conflicts and occasional political unity and solidarity amongst these highly differentiated peoples. An example for the latter was the United Middle Belt Congress that emerged following Nigeria's independence from Britain in 1960. In particular, Jos city in Plateau State has been
2550-588: The Middle-Belt entails, three top members of the Middle-Beltern struggle had this to say as presented in the pan-Middle-Beltern magazine, New Vision in December 2000: The Middle-Belt true to its name, is located in central Nigeria, and interacting with both the North and the South with large population of both Northern and Southern peoples, the Middle-Belt is always in the best position to interpret
2625-438: The North to the South, and the South to the North... What the Middle-Belt seeks therefore, is to advance its former stand has been addressed as North Central Zone to self identification as Middle-Belt region, and widen the scope of the informal sector which to this day cements the platform of our national unity, so that our elite in the Middle-Belt behave in the spirit of national unity, as adequately and persistently demonstrated by
2700-796: The Tertiary and possibly the Interglacial periods of the Quaternary glaciation , the Benue and Niger Valleys, otherwise known as the Niger/Benue trough, were transgressed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean . As a result, marine sediments form the dominant surface geology of much of Benue State. Benue State is blessed with abundant mineral resources. These resources are distributed in the Local Government Areas of
2775-622: The Tiv, the Tiv Day, marriage ceremonies and dance competitions (e.g. Swange dance) are often very colourful. Kwagh-Hir is a very entertaining Tiv puppet show. Social life in Benue State is also enriched by the availability of diverse recreational facilities. Apart from parks, beaches, dancing and masquerades mentioned above, the big hotels in Makurdi , Gboko and Otukpo are equipped with several indoor sporting facilities. There are golf clubs,
2850-605: The Wadata neighborhood and North bank neighborhood. Senatorial Zone C has; The Idoma in 7 local governments The Igede in 2 local governments and few other communities in other local governments. The Orring have a few communities, The Igbo have a few communities at the bothering local governments with Enugu state state, The Akweya have a few communities too. The state is populated by several ethnic groups: Tiv , Idoma , Igede , Etulo , Ufia Orring , Abakpa, Jukun , Igbo , Akweya , hausa and Nyifon . Most of
2925-512: The Yoruba who are the predominant ethnic group in Kwara and Kogi have a strong affinity with the larger Yoruba body and frequently prefer not to be associated with the Middle Belt identity. States of Nigeria which are generally referred to as belonging to the Middle Belt are: old Plateau (now Plateau and Nasarawa ), old Gongola (now Adamawa and Taraba ), Niger , Kwara , Kogi , Benue ,
3000-431: The absence of capital funds, basic infrastructure and the frequent political changes. The location of Benue State in the centre of the country plus the presence of bridges on two large rivers, the Benue River and Katsina-Ala River , make the state a major cross-roads centre. The present government has shown commitment to the construction of roads within the state capital Makurdi and other major roads leading in and out of
3075-464: The best of everything to the detriment of the Middle-Belter... Accordingly, these people from the Middle-Belt have the right to discontinue their association with those who enslave them and hold their destiny in their hands. On another flash, Onesimus Enesi added that: The people of the Middle-Belt are not in the North and cannot therefore be northerners...Since it pleases God to distinguish
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3150-451: The biophysical environment. Emotional geography is a subtopic within human geography, more specifically cultural geography , which applies psychological theories of emotion . It is an interdisciplinary field relating emotions, geographic places and their contextual environments. These subjective feelings can be applied to individual and social contexts. Emotional geography specifically focuses on how human emotions relate to, or affect,
3225-401: The core fields of: Cultural geography is the study of cultural products and norms – their variation across spaces and places, as well as their relations. It focuses on describing and analyzing the ways language, religion, economy, government, and other cultural phenomena vary or remain constant from one place to another and on explaining how humans function spatially. Development geography
3300-670: The country. Benue State has three teams in the professional soccer ranks, Lobi Stars F.C. in Division One, BCC Lions FC in Division Two, Mark mentors as the basketball premier league team. Languages of Benue State listed by LGA: Other languages spoken in the State include Korring Etulo , Nyifon , Basa , Jukun (including Wannu ), and Utugwang Irungene Afrike . Igbo is also spoken in border areas. The Roman Catholic Church has 2,354,410 followers in four suffragans of
3375-631: The creation of Benue State in 1976. Benue towns can be categorised into three groups. The first group consists of those with a population of 80,000 to 500,000 people. These include Makurdi , the State Capital, Gboko and Otukpo the "headquarters" of the two dominant ethnic groups (125,944 and 88,958 people respectively). The second group comprises towns with a population of between 20,000 and 50,000 people and includes Katsina-Ala , Zaki-Biam , Vandeikya and Adikpo . These are all local government headquarters. The third category comprises towns with
3450-411: The detachment associated with positivists. (The detachment and objectivity of the quantitative revolution was itself critiqued by radical geographers as being a tool of capital). Radical geography and the links to Marxism and related theories remain an important part of contemporary human geography (See: Antipode ). Critical geography also saw the introduction of 'humanistic geography', associated with
3525-498: The grassroot people over the years. The veteran journalist, Chief Bayo Joseph, Media Consultant and Chairman, Editorial Board of the New Vision, on his own part said: Since amalgamation of 1914, the people of the Middle-Belt have been held under dehumanizing conditions, they are treated as third rated citizen, little or no regard is accorded their culture and tradition, while their so-called masters wallowed in affluence enjoying
3600-648: The grassroots level are also recognised. To enhance their contribution to the affairs of the state, government has established a three-tier traditional council system made up of Local Government Area Traditional Councils, Area Traditional Councils and the State Council of Chiefs with the Tor Tiv (Tiv King) as chairman. The two Area Councils are the Tiv Traditional Council and the Idoma Traditional Council. The former has
3675-488: The increasingly international character of its membership. One of the first examples of geographic methods being used for purposes other than to describe and theorize the physical properties of the earth is John Snow's map of the 1854 Broad Street cholera outbreak . Though Snow was primarily a physician and a pioneer of epidemiology rather than a geographer, his map is probably one of the earliest examples of health geography . The now fairly distinct differences between
3750-484: The influence of their natural environment. However, by the mid-19th century, environmental determinism was under attack for lacking methodological rigor associated with modern science, and later as a means to justify racism and imperialism . A similar concern with both human and physical aspects is apparent during the later 19th and first half of the 20th centuries focused on regional geography . The goal of regional geography, through something known as regionalisation ,
3825-468: The lower river Benue trough in the middle belt region of Nigeria. Its geographic coordinates are longitude 7° 47' and 10° 0' East. Latitude 6° 25' and 8° 8' North; and shares boundaries with five other states namely: Nasarawa State to the north for 231 km (partly across the Benue River), Taraba State to the east for 235 km, Cross-River State to the south for 96 km, Enugu State to
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#17327722111233900-412: The oldest towns in the state and are growing at a much faster rate than the smaller younger towns. Makurdi doubles as the capital of the state and the headquarters of Makurdi LGA, while Gboko , Otukpo and Oju double as the local government and ethnic headquarters (i.e. for Tiv , Idoma , and Igede). All the roads in the state radiate from these three centres. As an administrative unit, Benue State
3975-400: The only subfields that could be used to assist in the study of Urban geography , but they are some major players. Within each of the subfields, various philosophical approaches can be used in research; therefore, an urban geographer could be a Feminist or Marxist geographer, etc. Such approaches are: As with all social sciences, human geographers publish research and other written work in
4050-409: The past. Historical geography studies a wide variety of issues and topics. A common theme is the study of the geographies of the past and how a place or region changes through time. Many historical geographers study geographical patterns through time, including how people have interacted with their environment, and created the cultural landscape. Political geography is concerned with the study of both
4125-422: The people he created along geographic, racial, national, ethnic and language divide, it is equally good to identify and call them as such and this is the wisdom behind the struggle for a separate identity for the people of the Middle-Belt. The definition of the Middle Belt areas are subject to great debate due to the presence of significant number of ethnic Hausa , Fulani , Kanuri and Igbo groups . In addition,
4200-566: The people, colourful dances, dresses and songs are also of tourist value. The Alekwu ancestral festival of the Idoma people, for instance, is an occasion when the local people believe their ancestors re-established contact with the living in the form of masquerades. The Igede Agba is a Yam Festival, marked every year in September by the Igede people of Oju and Obi local government areas. Among
4275-653: The range of 100-200mm. The dry season begins in November and ends in March. Temperatures fluctuate between 21 – 37 degrees Celsius in the year. The south-eastern part of the state adjoining the Obudu-Cameroun mountain range, however, has a cooler climate similar to that of Plateau State . Much of Benue State falls within the Benue Valley/trough which is believed to be structurally developed. During
4350-677: The region and the first encounter with Christianity by the Tiv people Agriculture forms the backbone of the Benue State economy, engaging more than 70 per cent of the working population. This has made Benue the major source of food production in the Nation. Experts say that it can still be developed because most of the modern techniques are not yet popular to majority of Nigerian farmers. Mechanization and plantation agriculture/agro-forestry are still at its infancy. Farm inputs such as fertilizers, improved seed, insecticides and other foreign methods are being increasingly used. However, cost and availability
4425-434: The rural areas are largely used for farming, relying on the urban centres for most of their urban needs. Benue State has no problem of capital city primacy. Rather, three towns stand out very clearly as important urban centres which together account for more than 70 per cent of the social amenities provided in the state and almost all the industrial establishments. These centres are Makurdi , Gboko and Otukpo . They are among
4500-554: The south-west for 84 km, and Kogi State to the west for 153 km. The state also shares a common boundary for 22 km with the Nord-Ouest Province , claimed by both Ambazonia and the Republic of Cameroon on the south-east. Benue occupies a landmass of 34,059 square kilometres. Benue state has a Tropical wet and dry or savanna climate . The city's yearly temperature is 29.38 °C (84.88 °F) and it
4575-529: The southern parts of the state is characterised by forests, which yield trees for timber and provide a suitable habitat for rare animals types and species. The state thus possesses potential for the development of viable forest and wildlife reserves. The land is generally low lying (averaging 100m-250m) and gently undulating with occasional inselbergs , Knoll , Laterite etc. It is only at the boundary area with Cameroon , also Kwande and Oju Local Government Areas that hilly terrain with appreciable local relief
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#17327722111234650-492: The spatially uneven outcomes of political processes and the ways in which political processes are themselves affected by spatial structures. Subfields include: Electoral geography , Geopolitics , Strategic geography and Military geography . Population geography is the study of ways in which spatial variations in the distribution, composition, migration, and growth of populations are related to their environment or location. Settlement geography , including urban geography ,
4725-434: The state include oranges , yams, mangoes , sweet potatoes , cassava , soya bean , guinea corn , flax , sesame , rice , groundnuts and palm trees . Benue State is a legacy of an administrative entity that was carved out of the protectorate of northern Nigeria at the beginning of the twentieth century. The territory was initially known as Munshi Province until 1918 when the name of its dominant geographical feature,
4800-600: The state. Of these mineral resources, only Limestone at Tse-Kucha, Gboko and Kaolinite at Otukpo are being commercially exploited. Other mineral deposits include Baryte , Gypsum , Feldspar , Wolframite , Kaolinite , mineral salts and Gemstone etc. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy of Benue State, engaging over 75% of the state's workforce. Prominent crops include Yam , Rice, Beans , Cassava , Sweet potato , Maize, Soybean , Sorghum , Millet , Sesame , Cocoyam etc. The state also accounts for over 70% of Nigeria's Soybean production. The vegetation of
4875-567: The state: 75% are farmers, 10% traders, 6% civil servants, 9% private. Benue State has the capacity to support a wide range of industries using local agricultural and mineral resources although potentials are yet to be exploited. Private initiatives in commerce and industry, particularly by indigenes, is as also on a small scale and is limited to carpentry, shoe repairs and manufacturing, small scale rice mills, leather and plastic industries, weaving, printing, catering, block making, food processing, etc. Industry and commerce have been greatly retarded by
4950-413: The streams are seasonal. Hence, there is an acute water shortage in the dry season in Local Government Areas such as Guma , Okpokwu , Ogbadibo , Gwer West ( Naka, Nigeria ) and Oju . This river system has great potential for a viable fishing industry, dry season farming through irrigation and for an inland water highway. Benue is divided into 3 senatorial districts and 23 local government areas 14 for
5025-448: The subfields of physical and human geography developed at a later date. The connection between both physical and human properties of geography is most apparent in the theory of environmental determinism , made popular in the 19th century by Carl Ritter and others, and has close links to the field of evolutionary biology of the time. Environmental determinism is the theory that people's physical, mental and moral habits are directly due to
5100-687: The term ' critical geography ,' these critiques signaled another turning point in the discipline. Behavioral geography emerged for some time as a means to understand how people made perceived spaces and places and made locational decisions. The more influential 'radical geography' emerged in the 1970s and 1980s. It draws heavily on Marxist theory and techniques and is associated with geographers such as David Harvey and Richard Peet . Radical geographers seek to say meaningful things about problems recognized through quantitative methods, provide explanations rather than descriptions, put forward alternatives and solutions, and be politically engaged, rather than using
5175-461: The total population while females constitute 50.2 per cent. Benue State region was depleted of its human population during the slave trade . It is largely rural, with scattered settlements mainly in tiny compounds or homesteads, whose population range from 630 people, most of whom are farmers. Urbanization in Benue State did not predate the colonial era. The few towns established during colonial rule remained very small (less than 30,000 people) up to
5250-460: The use of geographic information systems ; the use of statistics, spatial modeling, and positivist approaches are still important to many branches of human geography. Well-known geographers from this period are Fred K. Schaefer , Waldo Tobler , William Garrison , Peter Haggett , Richard J. Chorley , William Bunge , and Torsten Hägerstrand . From the 1970s, a number of critiques of the positivism now associated with geography emerged. Known under
5325-574: The violence. Human geography Human geography or anthropogeography is the branch of geography which studies spatial relationships between human communities, cultures, economies, and their interactions with the environment, examples of which include urban sprawl and urban redevelopment . It analyzes spatial interdependencies between social interactions and the environment through qualitative and quantitative methods. This multidisciplinary approach draws from sociology, anthropology, economics, and environmental science, contributing to
5400-410: The work of Yi-Fu Tuan , which pushed for a much more qualitative approach in methodology. The changes under critical geography have led to contemporary approaches in the discipline such as feminist geography , new cultural geography , settlement geography , and the engagement with postmodern and post-structural theories and philosophies. The primary fields of study in human geography focus on
5475-447: Was first created on 3 February 1976. It was one of the seven states created by the military administration headed by General Murtala Mohammed , which increased the number of states in the country from 13 to 19. In 1991, its boundaries were re-adjusted with the creation of Kogi State . The new Benue State of today has twenty-three (23) local government areas, which are administered by local government councils. Benue State lies within
5550-621: Was founded in the United States in 1888 and began publication of the National Geographic magazine which became, and continues to be, a great popularizer of geographic information. The society has long supported geographic research and education on geographical topics. The Association of American Geographers was founded in 1904 and was renamed the American Association of Geographers in 2016 to better reflect
5625-434: Was to delineate space into regions and then understand and describe the unique characteristics of each region through both human and physical aspects. With links to possibilism and cultural ecology some of the same notions of causal effect of the environment on society and culture remain with environmental determinism. By the 1960s, however, the quantitative revolution led to strong criticism of regional geography. Due to
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