Niger
The Power State
The Power State
Zuma Rock is a large monolith located just north of Abuja, Nigeria's capital, along the road to Kaduna. Standing 725 metres above its surroundings, it is sometimes referred to as the "Gateway to Abuja." It is depicted on the 100-naira note.
Located along the road between Suleja and Minna, the Gurara falls span 200 metres across with a sheer drop of 30 metres. Their name comes from the village bordering the river. The Gurara River is a large tributary of the River Niger. The waterfalls are located about three kilometres off the Minna-Suleja road. There is also an area down the river channel where one can find crocodiles living in their natural habitat.
The Baro Empire hill is a flat-topped hill which commands a magnificent view across the River Niger. At the top of the hill lie the remains of Lord Fredrick Lugard's first headquarters and a high frequency radio station he used. The Baro Port was used in the colonial days to transport goods through River Niger to and from the hinterland. There is also a railway line linking Minna to the Baro terminus. At Baro Port warehouses used by the Europeans to store goods can be seen.
This well located near Kontagora is said to have been created by Umaru Nagwamatse during the Fulani Jihad. Legend has it that while resting under a tree, he struck the ground with his sword in order to get water for ablution in preparation to perform his prayers. The water spot that resulted exists today as the well.
Kainji Lake is a reservoir on the Niger River, formed by the Kainji Dam. It was formed in 1968 and lies in both Niger and Kebbi states. Kainji Lake National Park is Nigeria's oldest national park and was established in 1976. It is made up of the Borgu and Zugurma game reserves, which are separated by Kainji Lake. The game reserves have abundant wildlife, including baboons, duikers, hippopotamuses, hyenas, kobs, roans, and warthogs.
Zungeru was declared a national monument on February 13, 1962. Some of the Historic sites abounding in the town include Lord Lugard's Villa, the Colonial Market, Prisons and Military Cemetery, Saint Ebenezer Church (where late Nnamdi Azikiweand Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu were baptised).
Zungeru was Lord Lugard's colonial secretariat before it moved to Kaduna. It was here that Lugard amalgamated the Northern and the Southern protectorates of Nigeria to become a unified country that is Nigeria today. Also located in Zungeru is a cemetery containing about 100 graves belonging to white colonial aides to the governor-general. Among the graves is that of one Dr AA Smith, the founder of the Scouts movement and West African Frontier Forces, who died on January 4, 1903. Zungeru was also the birthplace of Nigeria's first president, Nnamdi Azikiwe. The house in which he was born still stands.
The Durbar festival is an annual festival celebrated in Bida. It is celebrated at the culmination of the Muslim festivals Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. It begins with prayers, followed by a parade by the Emir and his entourage on horses accompanied by music players, and ends at the Emir's palace.