Munshi Province Renamed Benue Province; Makurdi Becomes Provincial Headquarters

The colonial administrative territory covering Tivland, originally called Munshi Province, was renamed Benue Province in 1918; Makurdi, founded in the early 1920s, became its headquarters in 1927.

The administrative territory carved out of the Northern Nigeria Protectorate at the start of the 20th century was initially named Munshi Province, after the Fulani exonym for the Tiv. In 1918 it was renamed Benue Province after the Benue River — itself derived from the Tiv phrase "Ber-nor" ("river/lake of the hippopotamus"), corrupted by colonial administrators to "Benue". Makurdi, established in the early 1920s, gained prominence in 1927 when it became the headquarters of Benue Province.

Established the administrative geography and the river-derived name that would eventually become Benue State in 1976.