Lafia

---

title: "Lafia" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["lafia", "local-government-areas-in-nasarawa-state", "state-capitals-in-nigeria"] description: "Capital city of Nasarawa State, Nigeria" topic_path: "geography/nigeria" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lafia" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Capital city of Nasarawa State, Nigeria ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
official_name	Lafia
native_name	Lafiyan
nickname	Lafia Garin Madidi
settlement_type	LGA and city
image_skyline	Lafia.jpg
pushpin_map	Nigeria
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	Nigeria
subdivision_type1	State
subdivision_name1	Nasarawa State
leader_title	Emir
leader_name	Hon. Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I JSC Rtd.
leader_title1	LGA Chairman
leader_name1	Alh. Muhammad Halliru arabo
unit_pref	Imperial
area_total_km2	2,827
area_land_km2
population_as_of	2022 est
population_total	509,300
population_footnotes
population_density_km2	auto
timezone	WAT
utc_offset	1
coordinates
blank_name	Climate
blank_info	Aw
::

| official_name = Lafia | other_name = | native_name = Lafiyan | nickname = Lafia Garin Madidi | settlement_type = LGA and city | motto = | image_skyline = Lafia.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Nigeria | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_caption = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Nigeria | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Nasarawa State | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = Emir | leader_name = Hon. Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I JSC Rtd. | leader_title1 = LGA Chairman | leader_name1 = Alh. Muhammad Halliru arabo | established_title = | established_date = | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 2,827 | area_land_km2 = | population_as_of = 2022 est | population_note = | population_total = 509,300 | population_footnotes = | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone = WAT | utc_offset = 1 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code = | blank_name = Climate | blank_info = Aw | ruler = | website = | footnotes =

Lafia is a city in Nigeria's North Central region. It is the capital and largest city of Nasarawa State, with a population of 509,300 inhabitants as of the 2021 census. And it's the Headquarter of Lafia Emirate Council.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Emirlafia.jpg" caption="Lafia Emir's Palace"] ::

Lafia, also known as Lafian bare-bari, is the capital city of Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria. Founded by Muhammadu Dunama in late 18th century on the site south of Shabu village. The town now has its 17th Emir in the person of Hon. Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I JSC rtd. Lafia became the capital of a prominent local chiefdom in the late 19th century. During the rule of Mohamman Agwai (1881–1903), the Lafia market became one of the most important in the Benue Valley, and a trade route was opened to Loko (56 mi [90 km] southwest), a Benue River port. In 1903, the British, who controlled Northern Nigeria recognized Chief Musa as Lafia's first emir. The emirate formed the major part of the Lafia Division of Benue province. In 1967, the town became part of Benue-Plateau state, and in 1976, it was allocated to Plateau state. The original inhabitants of Lafia are mainly by the Kanuri, Fulani Gwandara, Alago, Migilli (Koro). It also has large populations of Hausa. This is due to the hospitable nature of the indigenes and has made the city a miniature Nigeria.

Modern Lafia aside from being an administrative and educational centre, it is also a collecting point for sesame seeds, soybeans, and is a trading centre for yams, sorghum, millet, and cotton. Besides farming, cotton weaving and dyeing are traditionally important activities of the town's inhabitants. Livestock farming is also a prominent activity especially amongst the Fulani herdsmen.

The two royal families of Ari and Dallah Dunama of the Kanuri people (Bare-Bari) are the ruling houses of the Lafia Emirate. The current Emir is Sidi Bage, from the Dallah Dunama royal family. He succeeded the longest reigning Emir, HRH Isa Mustapha Agwai I (1976–2019).

Lafia Central Mosque

The Lafia Central Mosque (Arabic: النصراوا لافيا), also known as the Nasarawa State Mosque, is the state mosque of Nasarawa. The mosque was built in 1971[1] and is open to the non-Muslim public, except during congregational prayers.

Institutions

Lafia is home to the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State University Faculty of Agriculture Lafia Campus, Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic Lafia, School of Nursing And Midwifery, School of Health Technology LAFIA, College of Agriculture Lafia, and a study centre of the National Open University of Nigeria. It has a large number of primary and secondary schools. The St Williams Cathedral, situated along Jos Road, is the headquarters of the Lafia diocese and still under construction.

It is situated on the trunk railway from Port Harcourt and on the main highway between Makurdi and Jos. The population per the 2006 census in Lafia local government area was estimated as 330,712.

Climate

Lafia has hot, humid, partly cloudy dry seasons, oppressive, overcast rainy seasons, with temperatures that range from 64°F to 97°F all year round. It rarely gets below 59°F or rises over 103°F.

| width = auto | metric first = yes | single line = yes | location = Lafia (1991–2020) | Jan record high C = 40 | Feb record high C = 42 | Mar record high C = 42.2 | Apr record high C = 42 | May record high C = 40 | Jun record high C = 36.8 | Jul record high C = 34.5 | Aug record high C = 41 | Sep record high C = 35 | Oct record high C = 37 | Nov record high C = 40 | Dec record high C = 39 | year record high C = 42.2

| Jan high C = 35.6 | Feb high C = 37.6 | Mar high C = 38.2 | Apr high C = 36.2 | May high C = 33.5 | Jun high C = 31.6 | Jul high C = 30.6 | Aug high C = 30.0 | Sep high C = 30.8 | Oct high C = 32.4 | Nov high C = 35.2 | Dec high C = 35.6 | year high C = 33.9

| Jan mean C = 27.3 | Feb mean C = 30.1 | Mar mean C = 32.0 | Apr mean C = 30.9 | May mean C = 29.0 | Jun mean C = 27.6 | Jul mean C = 26.9 | Aug mean C = 26.5 | Sep mean C = 26.8 | Oct mean C = 27.8 | Nov mean C = 28.1 | Dec mean C = 26.8 | year mean C = 28.3

| Jan low C = 19.0 | Feb low C = 22.6 | Mar low C = 25.8 | Apr low C = 25.7 | May low C = 24.5 | Jun low C = 23.5 | Jul low C = 23.2 | Aug low C = 23.0 | Sep low C = 22.9 | Oct low C = 23.2 | Nov low C = 21.0 | Dec low C = 18.0 | year low C = 22.7

| Jan record low C = 11 | Feb record low C = 10.8 | Mar record low C = 15 | Apr record low C = 18 | May record low C = 17 | Jun record low C = 16 | Jul record low C = 19.7 | Aug record low C = 18.2 | Sep record low C = 19 | Oct record low C = 17 | Nov record low C = 13.5 | Dec record low C = 10.5 | year record low C = 10.5

| precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 1.6 | Feb precipitation mm = 4.8 | Mar precipitation mm = 12.4 | Apr precipitation mm = 87.2 | May precipitation mm = 157.1 | Jun precipitation mm = 214.8 | Jul precipitation mm = 239.1 | Aug precipitation mm = 309.0 | Sep precipitation mm = 235.7 | Oct precipitation mm = 143.6 | Nov precipitation mm = 5.1 | Dec precipitation mm = 0.1 | year precipitation mm = 1410.4

| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm | Jan precipitation days = 0.1 | Feb precipitation days = 0.3 | Mar precipitation days = 0.8 | Apr precipitation days = 4.4 | May precipitation days = 7.9 | Jun precipitation days = 10.1 | Jul precipitation days = 12.1 | Aug precipitation days = 14.4 | Sep precipitation days = 13.4 | Oct precipitation days = 8.0 | Nov precipitation days = 0.5 | Dec precipitation days = 0.0 | year precipitation days = 72.1

| Jan humidity = 37.4 | Feb humidity = 38.8 | Mar humidity = 52.4 | Apr humidity = 69.0 | May humidity = 78.6 | Jun humidity = 82.7 | Jul humidity = 84.7 | Aug humidity = 86.3 | Sep humidity = 85.6 | Oct humidity = 82.9 | Nov humidity = 63.3 | Dec humidity = 45.1 | year humidity = 67.2

| source = NOAA{{cite web |url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Nigeria/CSV/Lafia_65124.csv |title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Lafia |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = January 7, 2024}}

Temperature

From January through April, Lafia endures a hot season with daily highs typically exceeding 94°F. The hottest month is March, which averages highs of 97°F and lows of 75°F. Highs below 86°F are experienced for 4.0 months during the chilly season. The coldest month is December, which has highs of 90°F and lows of 65°F.

Growing Period

In Lafia, the term "growing season" refers to the longest stretch of time of the year during which temperatures are not below freezing (32°F). With a base of 50°F and a top of 86°F, growing degree days are a measurement of yearly heat accumulation used to forecast plant and animal development.

Sports

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Nasarawa_state_11.jpg" caption="Lafia city stadium"] ::

Lafia is the location of Nasarawa United, a football club whose stadium is Lafia Township Stadium.

Transportation

Lafia is served by the main narrow gauge railway from Port Harcourt.

References

References

1. "Lafia (Local Government Area in Nigeria)".
2. (2019-01-17). "Isah Mustapha Agwai 1 [1935-2019]".
3. "StackPath". [[Leadership (newspaper).
4. (11 January 2019). "Emir of Lafia buried amid tears".
5. "Lafia, Nigeria – International Cities of Peace".
6. "Lafia Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Nigeria) - Weather Spark".
7. "Lafia Annual Weather Averages".
8. "Lafia, Nasarawa, NG Climate Zone, Monthly Averages, Historical Weather Data".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::