Gombe (Fula: Gelle/Wuro Gombe 𞤺𞤫𞥅𞤤𞥆𞤫/𞤱𞤵𞥅𞤪𞤮 𞤺𞤮𞤥𞤥𞤦𞤫) is the capital city of Gombe State, north-eastern Nigeria, with an estimated population of around 450,000. The major spoken languages in Gombe are Hausa and Fulfulɗe, Tera and Tangale.[3]
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.[6]
11 Wards make up the Gombe Local Government Area.[7] The wards are:
The current Local Government Chairman is Barrister Sani Ahmad Haruna.[1]
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-Kafancha-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."[8] "Minister of Transport, Idris Umar ... flagged off the Gombe-Kafanchan-Port Harcourt and Gombe-Kafanchan-Kaduna intercity train services."[9]
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.[10] The University was established during the then government of Governor Danjuma Goje in 2004.[11] Making it the first University in the State. Also, in Gombe is Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe.[12] 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 Quran schools where they first learn to read Arabic and then memorize the Quran. Quran is highly prioritized by this 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.[13]
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.[14] Tudun Hatsi[15] 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, also known as (Babbar kasuwa) in Hausa, is located in the Herwagana ward of Gombe Local Government.[16] 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[17]
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.[18]
H rice farming is carried out in Gombe stateMaize 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.[19] The Gombe State government ordered an additional N4 million in anti-venom for the hospital in 2009, due to a local increase in snakebites.[20]
On 1 January 2015, a suicide bomber attacked a New Year's Eve service at a church, injuring several people.[27] On 14 January 2015, a suicide bomber killed two people and left 14 wounded at a Gombe mosque.[28]
On 2 February 2015, just minutes after a campaign rally by PresidentGoodluck Johnathan, an attack by a female suicide bomber left one person dead and eighteen injured.[29] Two blasts had occurred in the city the previous day, leaving five people dead.[30] Local residents "have set up checkpoints to defend Gombe" according to the BBC.[29]
[citation needed]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.[31]
