Biu

Biu is a local government area in Borno State, situated at 626 meters elevation on a plateau in northeastern Nigeria and containing many communities under its jurisdiction. The terrain features rolling hills with dispersed settlements across a wider landscape.

The territory was once an independent kingdom before becoming a British colonial division in 1918 and being reorganized as an administrative district. In 1920, Mai Ari Dogo was appointed as the first emir to lead governance under the new structure.

Multiple ethnic groups including Babur, Bura, Tera, Marghi, Mina, and Fulani communities share the land and speak languages from the Chadic language family. This diversity shapes daily life and local customs throughout the region.

The economy is based mainly on farming, with local cultivators growing sorghum, millet, maize, cowpea, and cotton while also raising livestock. The region is rural in character, with limited modern infrastructure in many areas.

The region contains deposits of iron ore, gravel, and magnesite beneath its surface, representing mineral resources with economic potential. The climate remains warm year-round, with average annual temperatures around 32 degrees Celsius, higher than the national average.

Location: Borno State

GPS coordinates: 10.61110,12.19500

Latest update: December 8, 2025 13:41