YOBE STATE

Date Created: 27th August, 1996

Capital City: Damaturu

Main Towns: Damaturu, Gashua, Giedam, Nguru, Potiskum.

Yobe state was carved out of the present Borno State and is bounded by Borno, Gombe, Jigawa States including the Niger Republic to the north.

Yobe State consists of 17 local government areas. These are Guiba, Fika, Nangere, fune, Giedam, Yuriubari, Yusufari, Jakusko, Gogharam, Borbari, Nguru, Machina, Damaturu, Potiskum, Tarmuwa, Karaguwa and Gularu.

The State lies mainly within the dry savannah belt and is therefore mostly hot and dry for the most part of the year except in the southern fringes where the climate is a bit mild.

Agriculture is the main occupation of the people and is also the backbone of the state's economy. Yobe State also possesses rich fishing grounds with pockets of little lakes located mostly in the northern part of the state. It is a cardinal policy of the state government to provide the inputs which would encourged the exportation of the rich agricultural resources of the State. This is done through the steady provision of such inputs as tractors, ploughs, fertilizers, pesticide etc. The State's Agricultural Mechanization Authority (YOSAMA) was set up to facilitate the provision and distribution of these inputs.

Agricultural products for which Yobe State is known include cattle which is found in abundance. Infact the state is reputed to have the largest cattle markets in West Africa located in Potiskum. Others are high grade gum arabic, groundnuts, beans, cotton etc. Mineral resources include portest gypsum in Fika and Gujba. Deposits of kaolin and quartz have been known to exist income parts of the state.

Yobe state has made giant stride in the field of education with numerous primary schools (631) and enrolment of 221183 pupils with 7215 teachers. There are 31 post-primary schools, a College of Education, Federal College of Education and an Institute of Management both in Potisktim.

In the health sector, there are eight General Hospitals, 40 Health Centres, and 335 Public Health Offices and one Primary Health Centre. Plans are underway to upgrade to a Specialist Hospital the Damaturu General Hospital.

Yobe state is culturally and historically endowed. It is well known for its captivating Durbar festivals, impressive Sallah ceremonies, and the Fishing and Cultural Festivals held annualy in jakusko Local Government area of the state.