Sokoto

Sokoto ( local name Sakkwato ) is a city in northwestern Nigeria with a population of 358 857 (calculated as of 2012). It is capital of the state of Sokoto. It is also the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto.

• 2.1 Population development

Geography

Sokoto is in the northwest of Nigeria in the valley of the rivers Sokoto and Rima, south of the rivers, as the area is often flooded between them. Larger towns nearby are Illela and Argungu. As the entire Northern Nigeria is also the landscape around Sokoto from the United savannah landscape Sudan.

Climate

The hot air Sokoto has frequent temperature fluctuations and high humidity result. On average, the highest temperature is 40 ° C in April, the lowest is in December and January to 15 ° C. The humidity varies from 10 percent in February and 90 percent in August. The rainfall for the year was 733 mm, it rains mainly from July to September with a maximum of 244 mm in August.

History

Sokoto was since 1808 the capital of the Caliphate of Sokoto, founded by Usman dan Fodio Jihad during his 1804-1812 and large parts of northern Nigeria ruled until it was defeated in 1903 by the British under Frederick Lugard.

Population Development

In 2002, 55 percent of the population were younger than 20 years and 40 percent of 20 to 60 years old.

In 1825, the British explorer Richard Lander counted 120,000 residents in 1921 lived in Sokoto only 19,300 in 1963 90,000 people.

Policy

Sokoto is the capital of the Nigerian state of Sokoto in which, as in other northern states of Nigeria, the Shari'a was introduced again, which attracted attention in the international press.

Economy and infrastructure

Sokoto has a good road network and connections to other states of Nigeria and the Niger capital Niamey. The Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport in the south of the city is mainly used by Mecca pilgrims from the states of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara. Prior to 2004, a plane flew the Nigeria Airways between Sokoto and the capital Abuja.

Major facilities are the Usman dan Fodio - University, which is located on the other side of the Rivers Sokoto and Rima, a university hospital and another specialized hospital, more colleges named after a Shehu Shagari educational college

Culture

Once a year, a very large fishing festival takes place. The date depends on the phase of the moon and is located in the transitional period from the rain in the dry season. The award is the fisherman who catches the biggest fish.