Gombe, Nigeria

{{Short description|Capital city of Gombe State, Nigeria}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Use Nigerian English|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Gombe | other_name = | native_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = City | motto = | image_skyline = Gombe 2.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = Roundabout in Gombe | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Nigeria | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_caption = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Nigeria}} | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Gombe State | subdivision_type2 = Capital | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = Lamiɗo | leader_name = Abubakar Shehu-Abubakar | leader_title1 = Local Government Chairman | leader_name1 = Alh. Ali Usman Haruna (Ashaka)<ref name=":0"/> | established_title = | established_date = | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 52 | area_land_km2 = | population_as_of = 2006 Census | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_total = 280,000 | population_est = 446,800<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gombe State: Subdivision |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/nigeria/admin/NGA016__gombe/|access-date=2024-02-05 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref> | pop_est_as_of = 2022 | population_density_km2 = | timezone = WAT | utc_offset = +1 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = {{coord|10|17|N|11|10|E|region:NG|display=inline}} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 8 | mapframe-wikidata = yes | mapframe-marker = village | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | postal_code_type = 3-digit postal code prefix | postal_code = 760 | area_code = | iso_code = NG.GO.GO | blank_name = Climate | blank_info = Aw | website = | footnotes = }}

'''Gombe'''{{Audio|Gombe.ogg|Listen|help=yes}} (Fula: Gelle/Wuro Gombe 𞤺𞤫𞥅𞤤𞥆𞤫/𞤱𞤵𞥅𞤪𞤮 𞤺𞤮𞤥𞤥𞤦𞤫,) is the capital city of Gombe State, north-eastern Nigeria,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-09 |title=Relation: Gombe State (3720422) |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/3720422 |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=OpenStreetMap |language=en}}</ref> with an estimated population of around 450,000. The major spoken languages in Gombe are Fulfulɗe and Hausa.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-17 |title=Gombe State History, LGAs and Senatorial Districts |url=https://www.aziza.com.ng/read/2019/10/history-of-gombe-and-there-local-government/ |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=Aziza Goodnews |language=en-US}}</ref>

thumb|Gombe central mosque

==Population== Gombe State is populated by the Fulani people constituting more than half of the state's population.<ref name =Gombeb>{{cite web |title=gombe |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Gombe-Nigeria}}</ref> Other ethnic groups include the Bolewa, Tera, Waja, Lunguda and Hausa people.<ref name=Gombeb/>

The LGA has an area of 52 km<sup>2</sup> and a population of 280,000 at the 2006 census.

The postal code of the area is 760.<ref>{{cite web|title=Post Offices- with map of LGA |publisher=NIPOST |url=http://www.nipost.gov.ng/PostCode.aspx |access-date=2009-10-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007011423/http://www.nipost.gov.ng/PostCode.aspx |archive-date=2009-10-07 }}</ref>

==Administration== A chairman who is chosen by the residents of the local government area leads the Gombe Local Government Area's administration. The vice-chairman and councilors provide assistance to the chairman, who is in charge of overseeing the day-to-day operations of the local government area.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Soluap |date=2023-05-09 |title=Gombe Local Government Area |url=https://soluap.com/gombe-local-government-area/ |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=Soluap |language=en-US}}</ref>

11 Wards make up the Gombe Local Government Area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wards in Gombe Local Government Area |url=https://www.manpower.com.ng/places/wards-in-lga/324/gombe |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=www.manpower.com.ng}}</ref> The wards are:

* Jekadafari * Ajiya * Bolari West * Bolari East * Kumbiya - Kumbiya * Pantami * Shamaki * Dawaki * Nasarawo * Herwagana * Bajoga

==Politics== The current Local Government Chairman is Barrister Sani Ahmad Haruna.<ref name=":0">{{cite web | url=http://gombestate.gov.ng/gombe-lga/ | title=Gombe LGA }}</ref>

==Transport== Gombe is served by Gombe Lawanti International Airport, and by a station on the eastern mainline of the national railway network and Gombe Line Terminal in mid-city. On 1 Feb., President Goodluck Jonathan announced that the Gombe-Kafanchan-Kaduna intercity train services had been "rehabilitated", saying "the inauguration of the train services was crucial to the growth and development of the Gombe and other adjoining states."<ref>{{Cite web | title = Nigeria Completes Rehabilitation of Gombe-Kafancha-Kaduna Inter-City Train | work = Premium Times - AllAfrica | access-date = 2015-02-03 | date = 2015-02-01 | url = http://allafrica.com/stories/201502020611.html }}</ref> "Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, flagged off the Gombe-Kafanchan-Port Harcourt and Gombe-Kafanchan-Kaduna intercity train services."<ref>{{Cite news |last = Danjuma Williams |title = Transport minister flags off Gombe-P'Harcourt train service |access-date = 2015-02-03 |date = 2015-02-02 |url = http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/transport-minister-flags-off-gombe-pharcourt-train-service/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150203033247/http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/transport-minister-flags-off-gombe-pharcourt-train-service/ |archive-date = 2015-02-03 |url-status = usurped |newspaper=National Mirror}}</ref>

== Culture and education == Gombe, as Gombe State capital, is the home of the notable Gombe State University (GSU) located at Shamaki ward, Tudun Wada, Gombe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gombe State University, Gombe - Photos & Reviews |url=https://hotels.ng/places/university/616-gombe-state-university |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=Hotels.ng Places}}</ref> The university was established during the then government of Governor Danjuma Goje in 2004,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nigerian University Commission |title=Nigerian Universities |url=https://www.nuc.edu.ng/nigerian-univerisities/state-univerisity/ |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=University Commission |language=English}}</ref> making it the first University in the State. Also, in Gombe is Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yaya |first=Haruna Gimba |date=2021-12-02 |title=FCE Gombe graduates 20,000 NCE holders in 30 years – Provost |url=https://dailytrust.com/fce-gombe-graduates-20000-nce-holders-in-30-years-provost/ |access-date=2022-12-23 |newspaper=Daily Trust|language=en-GB}}</ref> Another state-run tertiary institution in Gombe is the College of Nursing and Midwifery Gombe State, which is situated in Jekadefari. Moreover, the College of Medical Sciences is also located in Gombe. Additionally, Gombe is home to a number of public and private elementary and secondary institutions, including MATRIX International Academy, Gombe Central, Government Science Secondary School, Government Day Secondary School (Pilot), and Pen Resource Academy, to name a few.

=== Quran === Nigeria has the highest number of huffadh in the world, with more than 1 million memorizers of the Quran. Many of them live in northern Nigeria and particularly in Gombe where Quran is an integral part of the culture of the Muslim community there. From a very young age, children are sent to Quranic schools where they first learn to read Arabic and then memorize the Quran. Quran is so highly prioritized by these communities that students will go to these madrasas before completing a university or scientific education. As a result of these efforts, several world class readers have emerged from the state including Hajara Ibrahim who won the International Female Quranic Recitation Competition in Jordan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Michael |first=Ishola |title=Gombe student wins at International Female Quranic Recitation competition in Jordan |date=26 February 2024 |url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/gombe-student-wins-at-international-female-quranic-recitation-competition-in-jordan/|newspaper=Nigerian Tribune}}</ref>

== Economy == Farming is the main source of income for the inhabitants of Gombe State. Maize, millet, Guinea corn, rice, cotton, groundnut, beans, Beni seed, and other food and cash crops are farmed in the state. Livestock rearing is also common in the state.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Yusuf |first=Yusuf Sani |date=2016-01-01 |title=Agriculture as a Tool for Economic Development in Nigeria: An Assessment of Problems and Prospects in Gombe State |url=https://www.academia.edu/45636164 |journal=Nigeria's Economic Development Conference}}</ref> Tudun Hatsi<ref>{{Cite news |last=Webmaster |date=2016-09-17 |title=Inside Tudun Hatsi, Gombe's 80-year-old grain market |url=https://dailytrust.com/inside-tudun-hatsi-gombes-80-year-old-grain-market/ |access-date=2022-12-23 |newspaper=Daily Trust|language=en-GB}}</ref> is a notable market where grain business thrives in Gombe local government. The market generates huge revenue to the local government and the state in general.

The Gombe Urban Market is located in the Herwagana ward of Gombe Local Government.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Maina |first=Joy Joshua |date=September 2013 |title=Uncomfortable prototypes: Rethinking socio-cultural factors for the design of public housing in Billiri, north east Nigeria |journal=Frontiers of Architectural Research |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=310–321 |doi=10.1016/j.foar.2013.04.004 |issn=2095-2635|doi-access=free }}</ref> The state's geographical location and friendly economy make it a commercial area where entrepreneurs, even neighboring states, have their SMEs established. These SMEs have been the source of employment and income generation to many individuals<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Garba |first=Adamu |date=2019-12-31 |title=Effect of Entrepreneurial Competencies on the Performance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria |journal=International Journal of Advances in Management and Economics |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=17–28 |doi=10.31270/ijame/v09/i01/2020/3 |s2cid=213268080 |issn=2278-3369|doi-access=free }}</ref>

Gombe town's unusual location in the heart of the North-East has made it a popular resting and gathering spot for travelers and traders from all over the geopolitical zone and beyond.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Muhammed |first=Bibi Umar |date=2020-12-29 |title=Analysis of the Impacts of Urbanisation on Land Cover Change in Gombe Local Government Area, Gombe State Nigeria |journal=International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Analysis |volume=03 |issue=12 |doi=10.47191/ijmra/v3-i12-17 |s2cid=234458781 |issn=2643-9840|doi-access=free }}</ref> thumb|H rice farming is carried out in Gombe state thumb|Maize farm in akko, Gombe state, Nigeria In 2008 an agreement was reached "to set up anti-venom manufacturing plant in Kaltungo General Hospital in Gombe," and provide medical training for snakebite patients.<ref>{{Cite web | last = Aliyu M. Hamagam | title = Nigeria: UK, Echitab to Build Anti-Venom Plant in Gombe | work = Daily Trust - allAfrica.com | access-date = 2015-02-03 | date = 2008-02-15 | url = http://allafrica.com/stories/200802150018.html }}</ref> The Gombe State government ordered an additional N4 million in anti-venom for the hospital in 2009, due to a local increase in snakebites.<ref> {{Cite web | last = Segun Awofadeji | title = Nigeria: Gombe Orders N4 Million Anti-Snake Venom | work = This Day - allAfrica.com | access-date = 2015-02-03 | date = 2009-09-23 | url = http://allafrica.com/stories/200909230065.html }}</ref>

== Sports == {{unreferenced section|date=May 2020}} Gombe is also home to the new Pantami Stadium, a 12000-capacity sporting complex erected in 2010 by the then Governor Danjuma Goje's administration to help the state's sports growth.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-09-26 |title=N3bn Pantami stadium Gombe in dire need of maintenance |url=https://dailytrust.com/n3bn-pantami-stadium-gombe-in-dire-need-of-maintenance |access-date=2022-03-23 |newspaper=Daily Trust|language=en}}</ref> It replaced the earlier Abubakar Umar Memorial Stadium and is home to Gombe United F.C. and Gombe Bulls, the 2017 Nigerian Premier League runners-up (basketball).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-09-08 |title=Kano Pillars, Gombe Bulls pick continental slot |url=https://www.aclsports.com/kano-pillars-gombe-bulls-pick-continental-slot/ |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=ACLSports |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Boko Haram == Gombe has been impacted by jihadist group Boko Haram's insurgency, having been attacked several times in the mid-2010s.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Higazi|first1=Adam|last2=Lar|first2=Jimam|title=Articulations of Belonging: The Politics of Ethnic and Religious Pluralism in Bauchi and Gombe States, North-East Nigeria|date=2015-01-23|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0001972014000795|journal=Africa|volume=85|issue=1|pages=103–130|doi=10.1017/s0001972014000795|s2cid=144713143|issn=0001-9720|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

On 22 December 2014, a suicide bombing at a bus station killed over 20 people.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Levinus Nwabughiogu & Susan Edeh | title = Bloody Monday: Bombers hit Gombe, Bauchi, kill 30

| access-date = 2015-02-03 | date = 2014-12-23 | url = http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/bloody-monday-bombers-hit-gombe-bauchi-kill-30/|location=Lagos, Nigeria |newspaper=Vanguard}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-violence-idUSKBN0K01L020141222|title=Bomb killed 27 people and around 60 were wounded in Gombe|publisher=Reuters|date=22 December 2014|access-date=22 December 2014}}</ref><ref>http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/12/deadly-blast-at-nigeria-bus-station-20141222122023301934.html Deadly blast at Nigeria bus station</ref>

On 1 January 2015, a suicide bomber attacked a New Year's Eve service at a church, injuring several people.<ref> {{Cite news | title = Nigeria: Another bomber self-destruct outside Gombe Church

| access-date = 2015-02-03 | date = 2015-01-01 | url = http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2015/01/01/nigeria-another-bomber-self-destruct-outside-gombe-church/|location=Lagos, Nigeria |newspaper=P.M. News}}</ref> On 14 January 2015, a suicide bomber killed two people and left 14 wounded at a Gombe mosque.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Suicide bomber kills two, wounds 14 at mosque in north-eastern Nigeria |work=Yahoo News Canada |access-date=2015-02-03 |date=2015-01-13 |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/bomb-kills-one-wounds-18-north-eastern-nigerias-gombe-210217235.html }}{{dead link|date=March 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On 2 February 2015, just minutes after a campaign rally by President Goodluck Johnathan, an attack by a female suicide bomber left one person dead and eighteen injured.<ref name = "bbc20150202">{{Cite web | title = Nigeria elections: Blast hits presidential rally in Gombe | work = BBC News | access-date = 2015-02-02 | date = 2015-02-02 | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-31099348 }}</ref> Two blasts had occurred in the city the previous day, leaving five people dead.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Two blasts rock Nigeria's Gombe city, 5 dead: witnesses, source | work = AFP - Yahoo News | access-date = 2015-02-03 | date = 2015-02-01 | url = https://news.yahoo.com/two-blasts-rock-nigerias-gombe-city-5-dead-170526487.html }}</ref> Local residents "have set up checkpoints to defend Gombe" according to the BBC.<ref name = "bbc20150202" />

Boko Haram attacked Gombe on 14 February 2015, as well as on 16 and 22 July 2015.

==Climate== {{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}Located at an elevation of 451.61 meters (1481.66 feet) above sea level, Gombe has a Tropical wet and dry or savanna climate (Classification: Aw). The city's yearly temperature is 30.54 °C (86.97 °F) and it is 1.08% higher than Nigeria's averages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gombe, NG Climate Zone, Monthly Weather Averages and Historical Data |url=https://tcktcktck.org/nigeria/gombe |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=tcktcktck.org}}</ref>

{{Weather box | width = auto | collapsed = yes | metric first = yes | single line = yes | location = Gombe (1991–2020) | Jan record high C = 39.4 | Feb record high C = 40.5 | Mar record high C = 43 | Apr record high C = 43 | May record high C = 42 | Jun record high C = 38 | Jul record high C = 36 | Aug record high C = 37 | Sep record high C = 35 | Oct record high C = 37.1 | Nov record high C = 38 | Dec record high C = 38.7 | year record high C = 43.0

| source = NOAA<ref name="WMONormals">{{cite web |url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Nigeria/CSV/Gombe_65075.csv |title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Gombe |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = January 5, 2024}}</ref> }}

==See also== * Gombe State University * Railway stations in Nigeria *List of governors of Gombe State {{Wikivoyage|Gombe}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Coord|10|17|N|11|10|E|region:NG_type:city(261536)|display=title}} {{Gombe State}} {{Cities in Nigeria}}

Category:Local government areas in Gombe State Category:State capitals in Nigeria Category:Populated places in Gombe State