Kagara, Niger State Explained

Official Name:Kagara
Settlement Type:Town
Motto:Land of peace and tourism
Pushpin Map:Nigeria
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Nigeria
Coordinates:10.1844°N 6.2533°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Nigeria
Subdivision Name1:Niger State
Unit Pref:Metric
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Population Blank2 Title:Religions
Postal Code Type:3-digit postal code prefix
Postal Code:922
Timezone:WAT
Utc Offset:+1

Kagara is a community in Niger State, Nigeria, the headquarters of the Rafi Local Government Area.

Kagara is part of the Niger East Senatorial district, and is the seat of the Kagara Emirate.[1] The other two major emirates in the state are the Minna Emirate and the Suleja Emirate, each of which expect political representation in the state if not at the national level.[2] Early in 2010 the state government sacked the chairman of the local government area and set up a commission of inquiry to probe the council's financial undertakings during his term in office. In December 2010, a Minna High Court ordered his reinstatement.[3]

The town has a talc processing plant.[4] Construction of a dam was initiated in 1979 for a sum of N5 billion.The Federal University of Technology Minna carried out the Environmental Impact assessment for the Upper Niger River Basin and Rural Development Authority (UNRBDA).[5] About N3 billion had been paid by February 2002, when the Minister of Water Resources, Muktar Shagari, gave the contractor a deadline to complete the dam by December that year.In February 2004 the Minister of State for Water Resources, Mr. Bashr Ishola Awotorebo visited the dam site, and as a result called the contractor to account for delays in the project.[6] In August 2004, while presenting 500 hand pumps from the Federal Government to the Niger State Governor, Abdulkadir Kure, Mukhtar Shagari said the dam project could be doomed due to non-approval of the budgetary allocation.[7] In August 2007, Bala Kuta of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, a National House of Assembly representative, pledged to help with the dam project.[8]

One student is killed and 27 students, three teachers, twelve family members) were kidnapped by bandits on 17 February 2021.[9]

Remains of the Iron Age Nok culture have been found at Kagara, which lies at the far northwest end of the zone of Nok culture.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Battle of the emirates in Niger . Jide Orintunsin . 2010-04-20 . The Nation . 2011-01-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120509200937/http://thenationonlineng.net/web2/articles/43647/1/Battle-of-the-emirates-in-Niger/Page1.html . 2012-05-09.
  2. Web site: 2010: Can IBB's ambition upset calculations in Niger? . Nigerian Tribune . Dipo Laleye . 21 June 2010 . 2011-01-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120314062121/http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/politics/7059-2010-can-ibbs-ambition-upset-calculations-in-niger . 14 March 2012.
  3. Web site: Court orders Niger to reinstate sacked Rafi Council boss . 19 December 2010 . Aideloje Ojo . People's Daily . 2011-01-11.
  4. Web site: Mandate . Raw Materials Research and Development Council . 2011-01-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110211175619/http://www.rmrdc.gov.ng/about-rmrdc/mandate . 2011-02-11.
  5. Web site: History . Federal University of Technology, Minna . 2011-01-11.
  6. Web site: Minister Summons Kagara Dam Contractor . ThisDay . Juliana Taiwo . 25 February 2004 . 2011-01-11.
  7. Web site: Kagara Dam Project Jinxed - Shagari . 2004-08-13 . Jide Orintunsin . 2011-01-11.
  8. Web site: Kuta Pledges to Assist in Dam Development . ThisDay . 12 August 2007 . 2011-01-15.
  9. News: Gunmen kidnap dozens from school in central Nigeria . February 17, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . AFP . February 17, 2021.
  10. Book: Nigerian images . 24 . William Fagg . Herbert List . National Commission for Museums & Monuments . 1990 . 0-85331-566-3.