Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 7, 2026

Keffi

Keffi is a local government area in Nasarawa State, north central Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Keffi. Keffi is 50 kilometres (31 mi) from Abuja. Nasarawa State university is located along the Keffi-Akwanga expressway.

Last revised
Jul 7, 2026
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≈ 5 min
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Wikipedia ↗
Keffi
LGA and Town
Keffi
Map
Interactive map of Keffi
Country Nigeria
StateNasarawa State
HeadquartersKeffi Town
Government
 • TypeChairman Hon. Baba Shehu
 • EmirDr. Shehu Cindo Yamusa lll
Area
 • Total
138 km2 (53 sq mi)
Elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2006)
 • Total
92,664
 • Density671/km2 (1,740/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)
Postal code
961

Keffi (listenⓘ) is a local government area in Nasarawa State, north central Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Keffi. Keffi is 50 kilometres (31 mi) from Abuja. Nasarawa State university is located along the Keffi-Akwanga expressway.123

It has an area of 138 km2 and a population of about 92,664 at the 2006 census.1 The postal code of the area is 961.4

History

Keffi town was founded around 1802 by a Fulani warrior-leader, Abdu Zanga who took the title of 'emir'.5 His small dominion was subject to the Zaria emirate to which it had to pay an annual tribute of slaves.61

In 1902, Keffi was the location of an incident that led to the British invasion of Northern Nigeria, after the "magaji", a representative of the Zaria sultan, killed a British officer. When the Magaji found refuge in Kano, this was the pretext for Frederick Lugard to invade the northern caliphate.781

Geography

Keffi LGA covers 138 square kilometres or 53 square miles in total and experiences average temperatures of 30 °C. The dry and wet seasons are the two main seasons in the region, and the average humidity in the LGA is 42 percent.910

Keffi has a tropical wet and dry or savanna climate (Classification: Aw) and is 0 metres/feet above sea level. The district averages a yearly temperature of 30.27 °C (86.49 °F), which is 0.81% warmer than the national average for Nigeria. Keffi generally experiences 160.03 wet days 43.84% of the time and receives about 140.81 millimetres of precipitation annually, or 5.54 inches.1112

In Keffi, the dry season is partly gloomy, the wet season is oppressive, and it's hot all year round. The average annual temperature ranges from 17 to 36 degrees Celsius (63 to 96 degrees Fahrenheit), rarely falling below 14 °C (57 °F) or rising over 39 °C (102 °F).1314

Between January 28 and April 13, a 2.5-month period known as the "hot season," with an average daily high temperature of more than 93 °F. With an average high of 96 °F and low of 73 °F, March is the hottest month of the year in Keffi.1516

The 3-to-4 month cool season, which runs from June 20 to October 11, has an average daily maximum temperature of less than 85 °F. With an average low of 63 °F and high of 90 °F, December is the coldest month of the year in Keffi.17

Cloud cover

The average proportion of sky covered by clouds in Keffi varies significantly seasonally throughout the year.1819

The clearer season starts around November and ends around the ending of February.20

December is the clearest month of the year in Keffi, with the sky remaining clear, or partly cloudy 53% of the time on average.212223

Beginning around February 26 and lasting for 8.4 months, the cloudier period of the year ends around November 7.2425

May is the cloudiest month of the year in Keffi, with the sky being overcast or mostly cloudy 84% of the time on average during this month.262728

Economy

In the Keffi LGA, there are numerous mineral resources, including those for tin and columbite. Crops including millet, sorghum, yams, and cotton are also grown in the region, making farming another important economic activity there. The Keffi Cattle Market, which draws hundreds of thousands of buyers from across the country yearly, is one of the livestock markets located in Nasarawa State. Animal husbandry and handicrafts are two other significant economic pursuits of the residents of Keffi LGA. Additionally, Keffi is home to numerous officially and privately owned banks, hotels, and other institutions.929

Towns

Towns and villages under the Keffi Local Government Area are:3

  • Angwan Iya
  • Angwan Rimi
  • Anguwan Jaba
  • Anguwan Maiganga
  • Anguwan-Lambu
  • Angwan Salabu
  • Dan Dabi
  • Fagidi
  • Gangare Tudu
  • Ganta
  • Gidan-Kare
  • Jigwada
  • Kaibo Mada
  • Keffi East
  • Kofar Goriya
  • Liman Abaji
  • Saura
  • Sabon Gari
  • Tila
  • Tunayi
  • Yar Kadde
  • Yara

Notable people

References

References

  1. "Keffi | Nasarawa State, Middle Belt, Plateau State | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  2. "Keffi Archives". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  3. "Keffi Local Government Area". www.finelib.com. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  4. "Post Offices- with map of LGA". NIPOST. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
  5. Keffi, an Encyclopaedia Britannica entry, lookup ion March 2019
  6. The Ancient City of Keffi (Nasarawa State), Muzzammilwrites blog dated 22 November 2017, lookup in March 2019. The blogpost quotes from "Notes on Nassarawa Province, Nigeria", by Sciortino, J. C, p.7, Publication date ca. 1920, original accessible via [https://archive.org/details/notesonnassarawa00scioiala archive.org
  7. cf. Sciortino p.7
  8. Dusgate, Richard H (1985). The conquest of Northern Nigeria. London: Frank Cass. pp. 166-167. ISBN 0-7146-3227-9.
  9. "Keffi Local Government Area". www.manpower.com.ng. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  10. Yakubu, Ibrahim Omale. "Geography of Keffi, Nassarawa State, Nigeria (Published online in 2013)". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. "Keffi, Nasarawa, NG Climate Zone, Monthly Averages, Historical Weather Data". tcktcktck.org. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  12. "Keffi Annual Weather Averages". WorldWeatherOnline.com. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  13. "Keffi Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Nigeria) - Weather Spark". weatherspark.com. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  14. "November Climate History for Keffi | Local | Nigeria". www.myweather2.com. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  15. "Simulated historical climate & weather data for Keffi". meteoblue. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  16. "Keffi weather forecast for today". justweather.org. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  17. Atlas, Weather. "Yearly & Monthly weather - Keffi, Nigeria". Weather Atlas. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  18. "Keffi, Nigeria Hourly Weather Forecast | Weather Underground". www.wunderground.com. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  19. Sufiyan, Ibrahim (2020). "Rainfall Trend And It Impact In Keffi Nasarawa State". Engineering Heritage Journal. 4 (1): 23–26. doi:10.26480/gwk.01.2020.23.26.
  20. "Keffi Weather Forecast". www.weather-forecast.com. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  21. "Weather in Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria | Tomorrow.io". Tomorrow.io Weather. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  22. "12 hour forecast for Keffi". ExtendedForecast.net. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  23. "Weather in Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria | Whatweather.today". whatweather.today Weather. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  24. S.L, Tutiempo Network. "Weather in Keffi (Nigeria) - 15 days". www.tutiempo.net. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  25. "Keffi Nigeria". meteocare.com. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  26. "Weather in Keffi today". GISMETEO.COM. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  27. "Weather Forecast Keffi - Nigeria (Nasarawa) : free 15 day weather forecasts". La Chaîne Météo (in French). Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  28. Sufiyan, Ibrahim; Mohammed, K.; Bello, Innocent; Zaharadeen, I. (1 April 2020). "Impact of harmattan season on human health in Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria". Matrix Science Medica. 4 (2): 44. doi:10.4103/MTSM.MTSM_1_20.
  29. I, Dr Charles J. J. Mambula (1 January 2017). "Impact of SMEs A Study of Keffi and Marraraba Metropolis.pdf". International Journal of Innovation and Economic Development.

8°50′47″N 7°52′24″E / 8.8464°N 7.8733°E / 8.8464; 7.8733