Yola

Yola is the largest and capital city of Adamawa state situated in the NorthEast geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The city of Yola comprises of two local government areas which are Yola North and South. Yola city is unofficially divided into two parts; old and new Yola with the old being the traditional center and the residence of the Lamido while the new Yola known as Jimeta is the city’s administrative and commercial center. Popular districts and streets in Yola include Namtara, Manga, Wuro Yanka, Ngorore, Changala, Goduwu, Kulangu, Gongoshi, Ngolamba, and Lagire. A number of tertiary institutions are found in the city of Yola and they include the American University of Nigeria, Federal University of Technology, and the National Open University of Nigeria.

Yola has an estimated population of 964,771 inhabitants with the Hausa and Fulani as the dominant ethnic affiliations. Islam is the commonly practiced religion in Yola with the Hausa and Fufulde languages as the commonly spoken languages in the city. The city of Yola has a number of landmarks which include the American University of Nigeria, Federal High Court, Yola Airport, Yola Bronze, Yola Cafe stop, Adamawa state Government House, the Lamido’s palace, and the Federal University of Technology Yola. Hospitals found in Yola include the Federal Medical Center, Shagari Hospital, Yola specialist Hospital, Toungo Healthcare Center, OPD Specialist hospital, and the Galbose hospital.

GEOGRAPHY

The city of Yola lies on the bank of the Benue River and falls under the Tropical savannah climate. The total area covered by Yola state is 831 km squared with a humidity of 28 percent.

Yola has two distinct seasons which are the dry and the rainy seasons. The topography of the City is characterized by Mountains and elevations which include the Mandara and Shebshi mountains and the Dimlang peaks.

ECONOMY

Yola city is known for the cultivation of crops such as cotton, groundnuts, and  rice. Also, cattle rearing is a popular economic engagement of Yola city dwellers especially among the members of the Fulani tribe.

Also, markets such as the Yola town Market and the Jimeta old market offer platforms for the trade and purchase of a wide variety of commodities.

HISTORY

The city of Yola was established in the year 1841 by a Fulani Chief named Modibbo Adama. The British colonialists came into the city in the year 1901.

Yola which means “great plainland” in the local dialect has been the capital city of Adamawa state since 1991 following the state’s creation from Gongola state.