It’s the capital of both Makurdi LGA and Benue State.

Makurdi is also a Local Government Area in Benue state

Makurdi started as a trading center for the British Royal Niger Company. Other trading centers established by the company include Abinsi (near Makurdi town), Abuku (near Buruku town) and Katsina Ala town.

In 1927 it became the headquarters of the then Benue Province.

Being a river port, it attracted the establishment of trading depots by companies such as UAC and John Holt Limited. Its commercial status was further enhanced when the railway bridge was completed and opened in 1932. The other bridge was commissioned in 1978.

In 1976, the town became the capital of Benue State.

Features
Benue Governor’s office and residence known as Government House (renamed People’s House by the Samuel Ortom administration),
State Secretariat,
Federal Secretariat,
Central Bank office
Police, Zone B, state command headquarters,
Nigeria Prisons Service,
Aper Aku Stadium,
Nigeria Air Force base, Makurdi,
Makurdi Modern Market,
Federal Medical Centre,
Nigeria Railway Station,
Benue Printing and Publishing Company Limited,
Radio Benue,
Nigeria Television Authority
Central Post Office,
Benue Hotels
Benue State University
Federal University of Agriculture,
The Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering,
The headquarters of the 72 Airborne Battalion

Airport
Makurdi has a military airport owned and operated by the Nigeria Airforce’s Tactical Air Command Headquarters, Makurdi. The airport is open to civilian use. Both private and commercial jets frequently make use of the airport which is located along Makurdi-Gboko road