Makurdi

Makurdi
LGA and State Capital
River Benue (in Makurdi with both bridges)
Nickname(s):  Mkd, Mak-town
Makurdi Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 7°44′N 8°30′E / 7.733°N 8.500°E / 7.733; 8.500
Country	Nigeria
State	Benue State
Area
• Total	937.4 km2 (361.9 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[1]
• Total	517,342
• Density	550/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)

Makurdi is the capital of Benue State, located in central Nigeria,^[2] and part of the Middle Belt region of central Nigeria. The city is situated along the Benue River. In 2017, Makurdi's urban population was 517,342^[3]

The town is divided by the River Benue into the north and south banks, which are connected by two bridges: the railway bridge, which was built in 1932, and the new dual carriage bridge commissioned in 1978.

The southern part of the town is made up of several neighborhoods or wards; the Central Ward, Old GRA, Ankpa Ward, Wadata, High Level, Wurukum (Low Level), New GRA, Nyiman layout, Achusa etc. Important establishments and offices located here include the Government House, The State Secretariat, The Federal Secretariat, The Central Bank of Nigeria Regional headquarters, Commercial Banks, Telecommunication companies, Police Headquarters, Nigeria Prisons Service, Aper Aku Stadium, Nigeria Air force Base, Makurdi, The Makurdi Modern Market, the Federal Medical Centre, Nigeria Railway Station, Benue Printing and Publishing Company Limited, Radio Benue, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Nigerian Postal service, Benue Hotels Makurdi, Benue Plaza hotel, Benue State University, Benue State Breweries etc.

The North bank area of the town houses among other establishments, the Federal University of Agriculture, the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, the headquarters of the 72 Airborne Battalion, Akawe Torkula Polytechnic (ATP) and the State Headquarters of the Department of Customs and Excise.

Owing to its location in the valley of River Benue, Makurdi experiences warm temperatures most of the year. The period from November to January, when the harmattan weather is experienced is, however, relatively cool.

Makurdi can be reached by air^[4], rail, road and water. By road, the major northern route is the Makurdi – Lafia – Jos road. The southern routes are Makurdi – Otukpo – Enugu and Makurdi – Yandev – Adikpo – Calabar roads. Traffic from the west comes through Makurdi – Naka Benue Nigeria – Adoka - Ankpa – Okene roads and from the east through Makurdi – Yandev – Katsina Ala – Wukari roads.