Taraba State lies in Nigeria’s North East geopolitical zone, with its capital at Jalingo. The state has 16 local government areas, a population of 2,294,800 at the 2006 census, and a 2022 projection of 3,609,800. Every LGA below links to its full town-and-village list where we cover it.
Local Government Areas in Taraba State
Taraba’s 16 LGAs stretch from the Benue floodplain in the north to the Mambilla highlands in the south. Gassol, Wukari, and Sardauna are the three most populous, while Ibi and Gashaka carry the smallest recorded populations. The table below lists each one alphabetically, with population figures from the 2006 census and the 2022 projection.
| LGA | 2006 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Ardo-Kola | 87,784 | 138,100 |
| Bali | 211,024 | 332,000 |
| Donga | 133,105 | 209,400 |
| Gashaka | 87,166 | 137,100 |
| Gassol | 245,086 | 385,500 |
| Ibi | 84,302 | 132,600 |
| Jalingo | 140,318 | 220,700 |
| Karim-Lamido | 193,924 | 305,100 |
| Kurmi | 91,282 | 143,600 |
| Lau | 95,190 | 149,700 |
| Sardauna | 224,357 | 352,900 |
| Takum | 134,576 | 211,700 |
| Ussa | 90,889 | 143,000 |
| Wukari | 238,283 | 374,800 |
| Yorro | 89,865 | 141,400 |
| Zing | 127,685 | 200,900 |
Taraba has 16 official local government areas, and all 16 have full town-and-village lists on this site. LGAs along the Benue valley, including Ardo-Kola, Lau, Ibi, and Wukari, sit on flatter, more accessible ground than the highland LGAs of Gashaka, Kurmi, and Sardauna in the south.
Geography
Taraba borders Adamawa to the north, Gombe and Plateau to the west, Nasarawa and Benue to the southwest, and the Republic of Cameroon along its eastern and southern edge. The River Benue crosses the state through Ibi and Wukari, feeding the wetlands and fadama farmland along its banks, and the Taraba River, a Benue tributary, gives the state its name. In the south, the Mambilla Plateau holds Chappal Waddi, Nigeria’s highest peak, near the Cameroon border, and its cooler climate contrasts with the hot, dry lowlands around Jalingo and the Benue valley. Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Nigeria’s largest protected area, spans the Gashaka and Kurmi border zone and covers forest, savanna, and montane grassland in one block. Rugged terrain and poor road links across much of the south make several LGAs, including Gashaka, Kurmi, and Sardauna, harder to reach than the flatter LGAs along the Benue valley. The state follows Nigeria’s usual wet and dry season pattern, with rains running roughly from April to October and a dry, dusty harmattan wind for the rest of the year.
Economy & Local Life
Farming carries most households across Taraba: yam, rice, maize, cassava, and guinea corn are the staple crops on the lowlands, while the Mambilla Plateau grows tea and coffee on estates developed from the 1970s onward. The plateau is also home to one of Nigeria’s largest cattle ranches, supporting the wider livestock trade across the state. Fulani herders work grazing routes between the plains and the highlands, and cattle markets in Bali, Jalingo, and Wukari draw traders from across the North East. Fishing along the Benue and its tributaries supplies local markets in Ibi, Wukari, and Lau, where dried and smoked fish move on to buyers outside the state. Jalingo functions as the state’s administrative and commercial hub, with weekly markets in the LGA capitals moving grain, livestock, and craft goods between rural producers and traders. Local dialects vary widely by LGA, reflecting one of Nigeria’s most linguistically diverse states. Wukari is the historic seat of the Aku Uka, the paramount ruler of the Jukun people, and remains an important traditional and cultural centre; Kona, Chamba, Mumuye, Tiv, and Fulani communities elsewhere in the state maintain their own distinct customs and annual festivals.
FAQ
How many local government areas are in Taraba State?
Taraba State has 16 local government areas, spread across the Benue valley lowlands in the north and the Mambilla highlands in the south.
What is the capital of Taraba State?
Jalingo is the capital of Taraba State. Jalingo LGA is also the state’s main administrative and commercial centre.
What is the population of Taraba State?
Taraba had a population of 2,294,800 at the 2006 census, up from 1,512,163 in 1991. That figure is projected to reach 3,609,800 by 2022.
Which LGA in Taraba State has the largest population?
Gassol is Taraba’s most populous LGA, with 245,086 people at the 2006 census and a 2022 projection of 385,500. Wukari and Sardauna follow as the next largest.
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