Maiduguri serves as the capital and largest city of Borno state in northeastern Nigeria. Positioned along the seasonal Ngadda (Alo) River, this city is situated near the firki (“black cotton”) swamps of Lake Chad, northeast of Maiduguri.

The present-day Maiduguri comprises the twin towns of Yerwa and Maiduguri. Yerwa, founded in 1907 on the site of Kalwa hamlet, became the new traditional capital of the Kanuri people, replacing Kukawa. Concurrently, Maiduguri, a market village just south of Yerwa, was chosen by the British as their military headquarters in 1908, succeeding nearby Mofoni. The combined city, locally referred to as Yerwa, officially became the capital of British Bornu.

The city gained economic significance with the advent of the railway in 1964, becoming the primary commercial centre of northeastern Nigeria. Maiduguri’s chief exports include livestock, cattle hides, goatskins, leather products, dried fish from Lake Chad, and gum Arabic. The city also engages in local trade involving sorghum, millet, maize, peanuts, and rice. Notably, the Monday market at Yerwa is the largest in the state.

Maiduguri has a diverse population comprising Muslim Kanuri and Shuwa peoples, with some Christians from the south. Since the mid-1960s, it has become a key industrial and educational hub for Borno state. Industries in the city produce goods such as leather items, wooden and metal furniture, nails, and aluminium and steel structural products.

Educationally, Maiduguri hosts institutions like the University of Maiduguri, Ramat Polytechnic, Borno State College of Legal and Islamic Studies, and Kashim Ibrahim College of Education. The city accommodates medical facilities, including a teaching hospital associated with the university and a general hospital.

The Shehu of Bornu’s palace and mosque dominate Maiduguri, signifying the city’s traditional Muslim leadership. Positioned along the historic pilgrim route from Senegal to Mecca, Maiduguri is the terminus for the main railway line linking northeastern Nigeria to Port Harcourt. Additionally, it functions as a hub for secondary highways within the state. The city has an airport located 5.5 miles (9 km) west of Maiduguri.

Since 2009, Maiduguri and its surrounding areas have experienced disruptions due to the presence of Boko Haram, an Islamic militant group known for committing acts of violence. As of the 2016 estimate, the urban agglomeration population was approximately 1,065,000.

Map view

ID
77018
Name
Maiduguri
State ID
307
State Code
BO
State Name
Borno
Country ID
161
Country Code
NG
Country Name
Nigeria
Latitude
11.84692000
Longitude
13.15712000
WikiData ID
Q221436

References