Bida

Bida is a city in Niger State, Nigeria, on the A124 highway, and the name also covers the Local Government Area that the city occupies. The Local Government Area covers 51 square kilometres and had a population of 188,181 at the 2006 census, while the city was estimated at 178,840 in 2007, making it the second largest city in Niger State after the capital, Minna, which lies to the northeast. Bida is the capital of the Nupe kingdom, led by the Etsu Nupe, and has long been known for its brass and bronze craft. It is the commercial centre of the Niger South district, trading in shea nuts, cashew, groundnut and rice, and is a gateway for the livestock trade. The Nupe are the main ethnic group, living alongside Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Igala and others.