View source for Middle Belt

{{short description|Geographical region in central Nigeria}}
{{EngvarB|date=December 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}

{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Middle Belt Region
| native_name            = Central Nigeria
| image_coat             = 
| national_motto         = Our Land, Our People, Our Heritage
| national_anthem        = 
| image_flag = Some nations of the Middle Belt of Nigeria.jpg
| flag_size              = 300
| flag_caption          = Some nations of the Middle Belt of Nigeria.
| image_map              = Nigeria - Middle Belt.png
| image_map2             = Nigeria - Middle Belt - line boundary.png
| capital                = 
| largest_city           = [[Abuja]]
| official_languages     = [[English language|English]]
| languages_type         = Major indigenous languages
| languages              = {{unbulleted list | [[Bole-Tangale languages]]| [[Biu-Mandara languages]]|
[[Ebira language|Ebira]] |
[[Gbagyi language|Gbagyi]]
 | [[Idomoid languages]] | 
[[Igala language|Igala]] | [[Jukunoid languages]] |[[Kainji languages]] | [[Angas languages|Ngas languages]]|
[[Nupe language|Nupe]] |
[[Plateau languages]] | [[Savannas languages]]
| [[Tiv language|Tiv]] |
[[Yoruba language|Yoruba]] | Other languages, like Fulfulde, Hausa and Kanuri being culturally northern Nigerian<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sunnewsonline.com/north-must-apologise-for-atrocities-committed-against-middle-belt-prof-yusuf-turaki/|title=Obed Minchakpu: The Middle Belt question in Nigeria’s political discourse|publisher=The Sun Online|date=March 12, 2015|access-date=July 25, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://dailypost.ng/2015/03/12/obed-minchakpu-the-middle-belt-question-in-nigerias-political-discourse/|title=North must apologise for atrocities committed against Middle Belt –Prof Yusuf Turaki|publisher=Daily Post|date=April 24, 2021|access-date=July 25, 2023}}</ref>|
}}
| ethnic_groups          = {{unbulleted list |
[[Adara people|Adara]] |[[Afusari|Afizere]]
  | [[Atyap people|Atyap]]
  | [[Bariba people|Baatonum]]
  | [[Bacama language|Bachama]]
  | [[Bajju people|Bajju]]
  | [[Berom people|Berom]]
  | [[Boze language|Buji]]
  | [[Chamba people|Chamba]]
  | [[Dikaka language|Dijim]]
  | [[Ebira people|Ebira]]
  | [[Eggon people|Eggon]]
  | [[Gbagyi people|Gbagyi-Gbari]]
  | [[Ham people|Ham]]
  | [[Duka language|Hun-Saare]]
  | [[Kilba people|Huba]]
  | [[Igede people|Igede]]
  | [[Idoma people|Idoma]]
  | [[Igala people|Igala]]
  | [[Jukun people (West Africa)|Jukun]]
  | [[Kambari language|Kamberi]]
   | [[Mambila people|Mambila]]
  | [[Marghi language|Marghi]]
  | [[Mumuye people|Mumuye]]
  | [[Angas people|Ngas]]
  | [[Mada language|Mada]]
  | [[Nupe people|Nupe]]
  | [[Tangale language|Tangale]]
  | [[Tarok people|Tarok]]
  | [[Tiv people|Tiv]] 
  |
[[Yoruba people|Yoruba (Okun)]]
  | [[Saya language|Zaar (Guus)]]
  | Others: Bogghom, Gwong, Igbo, etc.; including northern groups like Fulani, Hausa and Kanuri.
  }}
| ethnic_groups_year     = 
| demonym                = Middle-Belter
| government_type        = 
| leader_title1          = 
| leader_name1           = 
| leader_title2          = 
| leader_name2           = 
| legislature            = 
| sovereignty_type       = 
| established_event1     = 
| established_date1      = 
| established_event2     = 
| established_date2      = 
| area_km2               = 
| area_rank              = 
| area_sq_mi             = 
| percent_water          = 
| population_estimate    = {{formatnum:40000000}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dailytrust.com/64th-independence-over-40-million-people-marginalised-in-middle-belt-says-coalition|date=2024-09-30|title=64th Independence: Over 40 million people marginalised in Middle Belt|access-date=2025-03-22|author=Maryam Ahmadu-Saku}}</ref>
| population_census      = 
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| GDP_PPP                = 
| GDP_PPP_year           = 
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = 
| GDP_nominal            = 
| GDP_nominal_year       = 
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| Gini                   = 
| Gini_year              = 
| Gini_change            = 
| Gini_ref               = 
| Gini_rank              = 
| HDI                    = 
| HDI_year               = 
| HDI_change             = 
| HDI_ref                = 
| HDI_rank               = 
| currency               = 
| currency_code          = 
| utc_offset             = 
| time_zone              = 
| DST_note               = 
| drives_on              = 
| calling_code           = 
| iso3166code            = 
| cctld                  = 
| coordinates            = 
| religion               = [[Christianity]]<br/>[[Islam]]<br/>[[Traditional Religion]]
| today                  = 
}}

'''Middle Belt''' (also spelt '''Middle-Belt''') or '''Central Nigeria''' is a term used in [[human geography]] to designate a belt region stretching across central [[Nigeria]] longitudinally and forming a transition zone between [[Northern Nigeria|Northern]] and [[Southern Nigeria Protectorate|Southern]] Nigeria. It is composed of the southern half of the defunct [[Northern Region, Nigeria|Northern Region]] of Nigeria,<ref name=OW>{{Cite book |title=Operation World: A day-to-day guide to praying for the world |last=Johnson |first=Patrick |publisher=OM Publishing and WEC Publications|date=1978 |edition=4th |isbn=1-85078-007-2 |pages=327–328}}</ref> now comprising mostly the [[North Central (Nigeria)|North Central]] and parts of the [[North East (Nigeria)|North East]] and [[North West (Nigeria)|North West]] [[geopolitical zones of Nigeria|geopolitical zones]], and is characterised by its lack of a clear majority ethnic group. It is also the location of Nigeria's [[Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria)|Federal Capital Territory]].

The eminence of manifold minority groups, to some degree, constitutes an [[ethno-linguistic]] barrier in the country and draws a separation between the principally [[Muslim]] North and the mainly [[Christians|Christian]] south.<ref>{{aut|Johannes Harnischfeger}}, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=ftfXThvfQHkC&pg=PA38 Democratization and Islamic Law: The Sharia Conflict in Nigeria]'' (Frankfurt am Main 2008) p. 38. Campus Verlag. {{ISBN|3593382563}}</ref> The region is a convergence of these cultural domains and maintains a tremendous degree of ethno-linguistic diversity. [[Afro-Asiatic]], [[Nilo-Saharan]], and [[Niger–Congo]] languages are all spoken, which are three of the primary [[Languages of Africa|African language]] families.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Languages of Africa|url=https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/zflt/eng/zjfz/fzzl/t619829.htm|website=www.fmprc.gov.cn|access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> In the 1920s, it was described by Melzian (1928:496) as the "Middle Zone".<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Melzian |first=H. |date=1928 |title=Review: [Untitled] |journal=Africa: Journal of the International African Institute |volume=1 |issue=4 |pages=495–496 |doi=10.2307/1155920 |jstor=1155920 |s2cid=143502810 |access-date=December 16, 2020 |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/1155920|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Some scholars argue that rather than a simple geographic definition, the Middle Belt represents a religious and cultural amalgamation of non-Hausa Christians.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olaitan |first=Toba |date=2020-06-13 |title=Why Nigeria’s North central region can’t be renamed “Middle Belt” |url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/why-nigerias-north-central-region-cant-be-renamed-middle-belt/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Tribune Online |language=en-GB}}</ref>{{Explain|reason=Another editor has added this concept. It needs development as a prose section. I've included it in the intro for summary purposes.|date=April 2023}}

== Overview ==
As to what the Middle-Belt entails, three top members of the Middle-Beltern struggle had this to say as presented in the pan-Middle-Beltern magazine, ''New Vision'' in December 2000:
{{quote| The Middle-Belt true to its name, is located in central Nigeria, and interacting with both the North and the South with large population of both Northern and Southern peoples, the Middle-Belt is always in the best position to interpret the North to the South, and the South to the North... What the Middle-Belt seeks therefore, is to advance its former stand has been addressed as North Central Zone to self identification as Middle-Belt region, and widen the scope of the informal sector which to this day cements the platform of our national unity, so that our elite in the Middle-Belt behave in the spirit of national unity, as adequately and persistently demonstrated by the grassroot people over the years.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Seri |first=Fidelis |date=2000 |title=MIDDLE-BELT: AN AGENDA FOR THE 21ST CENTURY |journal=New Vision |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages= 10–11 }}</ref>}}

The veteran journalist, Chief Bayo Joseph, Media Consultant and Chairman, Editorial Board of the New Vision, on his own part said: 

{{quote| Since amalgamation of 1914, the people of the Middle-Belt have been held under dehumanizing conditions, they are treated as third rated citizen, little or no regard is accorded their culture and tradition, while their so-called masters wallowed in affluence enjoying the best of everything to the detriment of the Middle-Belter... Accordingly, these people from the Middle-Belt have the right to discontinue their association with those who enslave them and hold their destiny in their hands.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Joseph |first=Bayo |date=2000 |title=THOUGHTS OF A VETERAN |journal=New Vision |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages= 7–9 }}</ref>}}

On another flash, Onesimus Enesi added that: 

{{quote| The people of the Middle-Belt are  not in the North and cannot therefore be northerners...Since it pleases God to distinguish the people he created along geographic, racial, national, ethnic and language divide, it is equally good to identify and call them as such and this is the wisdom behind the struggle for a separate identity for the people of the Middle-Belt.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Enesi |first=Onesimus |date=2000 |title=OPC VERSUS HAUSA/FULANI |journal=New Vision |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages= 13–18 }}</ref>}}

The definition of the Middle Belt areas are subject to great debate due to the presence of significant number of ethnic [[Hausa people|Hausa]], [[Fula people|Fulani]], [[Kanuri people|Kanuri]] and [[Igbo people|Igbo]] groups .{{Citation Needed|date=May 2020}} In addition, the Yoruba who are the predominant ethnic group in [[Kwara State|Kwara]] and [[Kogi State|Kogi]] have a strong affinity with the larger Yoruba body and frequently prefer not to be associated with the Middle Belt identity.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}

== Politics ==
===Territories===
States of Nigeria which are generally referred to as belonging to the Middle Belt are: old [[Plateau State|Plateau]] (now [[Plateau State|Plateau]] and [[Nasarawa State|Nasarawa]]), old [[Gongola State|Gongola]] (now [[Adamawa State|Adamawa]] and [[Taraba State|Taraba]]), [[Niger State|Niger]], [[Kwara State|Kwara]], [[Kogi State|Kogi]], [[Benue State|Benue]], the [[Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria|Federal Capital Territory]], alongside [[Southern Kaduna]], Southern [[Bauchi State|Bauchi]], Southern [[Kebbi State|Kebbi]], Southern [[Gombe State|Gombe]], Southern [[Yobe State]] and Southern [[Borno State|Borno]], all culturally considered as part of the Middle Belt.<ref name=OW/><ref name=MB> {{Cite web |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/06/28/nigeria-rising-toll-middle-belt-violence |title=Nigeria: Rising Toll of Middle-Belt Violence |date=June 28, 2018 |access-date=July 13, 2020 }}</ref>

===Agitations for a region===
The yearnings for the creation of the Middle Belt region in Nigeria had been a burning issue, as even groups like the United Middle-Belt Youth Congress (UMYC) demand for a separate identity from the "North" by the creation of the Middle Belt region as a federal unit within Nigeria.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/12/were-not-northerners-middle-belt-youths/amp/|title=We’re not northerners- Middle-Belt youths|author1=Akinferon, Dapo|author2=Kumolu, Charles|date=December 9, 2011|publisher=Vanguard.ng|access-date=August 3, 2023}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
===Population===
The population of the Middle Belt as of 1991, was about 17.3 million but now predicted to be over 45 million people living in the middle belt region, with a predominant [[Christians|Christian]]  population of 65%, [[Muslims|Muslim]] population of 25% and [[African traditional religions|Animist]] population of 10% of the total population.<ref name=OW/>

=== Ethnolinguistic groups  ===
The Middle Belt consists of many ethnic groups speaking over 230 languages. There is no dominant ethnic group, but among the larger groups as of 1991 are: [[Tiv people|Tiv]] 5.1 million, [[Nupe people|Nupe]] 1.8 million.<ref name=OW/> These ethnic groups are represented by advocacy organizations such as [[CONAECDA]].<ref name="BlenchAtlas">{{Cite book|title=An Atlas of Nigerian Languages|last=Blench|first=Roger|publisher=Kay Williamson Educational Foundation|year=2020|url=http://rogerblench.info/Language/Africa/Nigeria/Atlas%20of%20Nigerian%20Languages%202020.pdf|location=Cambridge}}</ref><ref>Blench, Roger. 2019. ''[https://www.academia.edu/38612848/Old_data_and_new_technologies_the_seamless_integration_of_linguistics_literacy_and_translation_for_Nigerian_minority_languages Old data and new technologies: the seamless integration of linguistics, literacy and translation for Nigerian minority languages]''. Jos Linguistic Circle, Jos, 13th March, 2019.</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Research on the Plateau languages of Central Nigeria|first=Roger|last=Blench|volume=93|publisher=Hamburg University Press|date=2020-12-31|doi=10.15460/auue.2020.93.1.209|journal=Afrika und Übersee|pages=3–44|s2cid=128339090 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== Ethnoreligious conflicts ===
Minorities in Nigeria tend to be dominated by the three largest ethnic groups, the [[Hausa people|Hausa]] of the North, the [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] of the Southwest and the [[Igbo people|Igbo]] of the Southeast. Surrounded by divergent religious, economic, and cultural histories, the Middle Belt has been the melting pot where small and large ethno-religious groups in Nigeria have long coexisted, but where they have also increasingly collided over land, resources, identity and political power.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|url = http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/nigeria/07812.pdf|title = The Jos Crisis: A Recurrent Nigerian Tragedy|last = Higazi|first = Adam|date = January 2011|journal = Working Paper|access-date = 19 October 2015|issue = 2|publisher = Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung|pages = 3–6}}</ref> The result is a mixture of recurring conflicts and occasional political unity and solidarity amongst these highly differentiated peoples. An example for the latter was the [[United Middle Belt Congress]] that emerged following Nigeria's independence from [[United Kingdom|Britain]] in 1960. In particular, [[Jos]] city in [[Plateau State]] has been a centre for ethno-religious disputes and violence since the 1990s. The [[The Jos Forum Inter-communal Dialogue Process|Jos Forum Inter-Communal Dialogue process]] spanned 16 months from August 2013 - December 2014, and refers to a peace process undertaken by communities living in Jos that concluded in a “Declaration of Commitment to Peace”. In 2018 violence escalated, with battles for scarce resources leading to over 500 deaths and 50 towns being destroyed. The clashes were largely between Muslim [[Fulani]] [[pastoralists]] and Christian [[Berom people|Berom]] farmers.  Over 300,000 people have been displaced by the violence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/world/africa/nigeria-herders-farmers.html?module=WatchingPortal&region=c-column-middle-span-region&pgType=Homepage&action=click&mediaId=thumb_square&state=standard&contentPlacement=9&version=internal&contentCollection=www.nytimes.com&contentId=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/world/africa/nigeria-herders-farmers.html&eventName=Watching-article-click|title=Nigeria's Farmers and Herders Fight a Deadly Battle for Scarce Resources|access-date=2018-06-27|language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[1992 Zangon Kataf crises]]
* [[Agricultural sustainability in northern Nigeria]]
* [[CONAECDA]], an organization representing indigenous ethnic groups in the Middle Belt
* [[Culture of Northern Nigeria]]
* [[Southern Kaduna genocide]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons cat|Middle Belt, Nigeria|Middle Belt}}

*Blench, Roger. 2021. ''[https://www.academia.edu/video/kLmebj Reconstructing society in central Nigeria prior to 1800]''. Presented on 12 June 2021.

{{Coord missing|Nigeria}}

[[Category:Middle Belt, Nigeria| ]]
[[Category:Geography of Nigeria]]
[[Category:Demographics of Nigeria]]
[[Category:Belt regions]]
[[Category:Religion and geography]]
[[Category:Regions of West Africa]]
[[Category:Cultural boundaries]]
[[Category:Religion in Nigeria]]