Suleja

Economy

Discoveries of ancient sculptures of the Nok culture, both at Suleja town and in the Makabolo River bed, have helped prove the influence of Nok on the Yoruba art of Ife. Today Suleja exports Gbari pottery. Cotton weaving and dyeing, with locally grown indigo, and mat making are traditional activities, but farming remains the chief occupation. Local trade is primarily in agricultural products. In addition to the Pottery Centre, a government secondary school and a hospital are located in the town. The Dorben Polytechnic has a campus in Suleja.{{cite web |access-date=2009-03-18}}

Climate

The rainy season in Suleja is humid, stifling, and overcast, whereas the dry season is hot and partially cloudy. Throughout the year, temperature normally ranges from 60°F to 93°F, with temperatures rarely falling below 55°F or rising over 100°F.

From January 28 to April 14, the hot season, with an average daily high temperature exceeding 91°F, lasts for 2.5 months. Suleja experiences its warmest weather in March, with an average high temperature of 93°F and low temperature of 71°F.

From June 23 to October 2, the cool season, which has an average daily high temperature below 83°F, lasts for 3.4 months. With an average low of 61°F and high of 88°F, December is the coldest month of the year in Suleja.

The amount of time that the sky is overcast or largely cloudy increases from 55% to 65% throughout the winter in Suleja, which experiences increasing cloud cover. On January 1, there is a 41% probability of gloomy or mainly cloudy weather.

January 1, with clear, mostly clear, or partly overcast circumstances 59% of the time, is the clearest day of the winter.

For comparison, the likelihood of gloomy or largely cloudy weather on May 13, the cloudiest day of the year, is 86%, while the likelihood of clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy skies on January 1, the clearest day of the year, is 59%.

History

The emirate's wooded savanna area of about 2980 km2 originally included four small Koro chiefdoms that paid tribute to the Hausa kingdom of Zazzau. After warriors of the Fulani jihad (struggle/War) captured Zaria (Zazzau's capital, 220 km north-northeast) about 1804, Muhamman Makau, sarkin ("king of") Zazzau, led many of the Hausa nobility to the Koro town of Zuba (10 km south). Abu Ja (Jatau), his brother and successor as sarkin Zazzau, founded Abuja town in 1828, began construction of its wall a year later, and proclaimed himself the first Sarkin Abuja.

Withstanding Zaria attacks, the Abuja emirate remained an independent Hausa refuge. Trade with the Fulani emirates of Bida (to the west) and Zaria began in Emir Abu Kwaka's reign (1851–1877), but, when Abuja's leaders disrupted the trade route between Lokoja (160 km south-southeast) and Zaria in 1902, the British occupied the town. Alluvial tin mining began in Emir Musa Angulu's reign (1917–1944).

In 2011, Suleja was hit by several bomb assaults. Ten people were killed on March 3. On April 7, another bomb killed 25 people.

On January 18, 2025, a fuel tanker carrying roughly 60,000 liters of petrol overturned at the Dikko junction near Suleja, where after crashing local residents gathered to collect spilled fuel. The fuel promptly caused an explosion which killed over 100 people and injured another 69, including at least 52 critically.

References

References

1. Acho, Affa. (May 25, 2023). "Suleja LG Begins Decongestion Of IBB Market". [[Leadership (newspaper).
2. Niger State (Nigeria). Ministry of Information, Social Development, Youth, Sports, and Culture. Information Division.. (1986). "This is Suleja.". [Information Division, Ministry of Information, Social Development, Youth, Sports, and Culture].
3. Last, D. M.. (1966). "A Solution to the Problems of Dynastic Chronology in 19th Century Zaria and Kano". Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria.
4. Filson, Frances.. "Abuja's lady potter.".
5. {{Cite encyclopedia. Rea. Will. (2003). Oxford University Press
6. "The Nok Culture {{!}} National Geographic Society".
7. "Suleja {{!}} Nigeria {{!}} Britannica".
8. "Suleja Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Nigeria) - Weather Spark".
9. "Suleja Winter Weather, Average Temperature (Nigeria) - Weather Spark".
10. "Suleja, Niger, NG Climate Zone, Monthly Averages, Historical Weather Data".
11. (2023-09-25). "Weather Suleja".
12. "Weather in Suleja, Niger State, Nigeria {{!}} Tomorrow.io".
13. "Simulated historical climate & weather data for Suleja".
14. "Abu Ja {{!}} king of Zazzau {{!}} Britannica".
15. [http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/10-feared-dead-in-bomb-blast-in-suleja-in-niger/ 10 feared dead in Suleja bomb blast], Vanguard, visited April 16, 2011
16. [http://thewillnigeria.com/breaking/8159-Bomb-Explosion-INEC-Office-Suleja.html Bomb Explosion At INEC Office In Suleja], THEWILL, visited April 16, 2011
17. (7 February 2025). "Niger fuel tanker fire victims get Remi Tinubu’s N100m donation". [[The Punch]].