Pobè
Pobè | |
|---|---|
  Pobè Location in Benin | |
| Coordinates: 6°58′N 2°41′E / 6.967°N 2.683°E | |
| Country |  Benin |
| Department | Plateau Department |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Simon Adébayo DINAN |
| Area | |
• Total | 400 km2 (150 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 39 m (128 ft) |
| Population (2013) | |
• Total | 123,740 |
| • Density | 310/km2 (800/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
Pobè [pɔ.bɛ] is a city and arrondissement located in the Plateau Department of Benin. The commune covers an area of 400 square kilometres and as of 2013 had a population of 123,740 people.[1]
Geography
[edit]Pobè is a city and commune in the Plateau Department of southeastern Benin. The commune covers an area of about 400 square kilometres.[2] It is bordered to the north by the commune of Kétou, to the south and west by Adja-Ouèrè, and to the east by the Republic of Nigeria.[3]
Administrative divisions
[edit]The commune of Pobè comprises **five arrondissements**: Pobè-Centre (the urban arrondissement), and four rural arrondissements: Towé, Igana, Ahoyéyé, and Issaba. Together they include 44 villages and urban quarters.[4][5]
Population
[edit]According to the 2013 General Population and Housing Census (RGPH-4), Pobè had a population of about 123,677 inhabitants.[6] The population growth between 1992 and 2002 was high, with 82,910 inhabitants in 2002 and ~54,181 in 1992, indicating an annual growth rate consistent with many borders communes of Plateau.[7]
Economy
[edit]Agriculture is the main economic activity in Pobè. Major crops include maize, manioc, yams, groundnut (arachide), palm oil, and vegetables.[5][4] Pobè also has significant mineral resources, notably limestone (in Onigbolo in the Issaba arrondissement), clay and “terre de barre”.[4][2] The commune hosts a cement factory (Société des Ciments du Bénin, Groupe Lafarge) in Onigbolo, supplying clinker to many construction sites across Benin.[2][4]
Infrastructure and Services
[edit]Pobè is governed by a mayor, currently Simon Adébayo Dinan (since June 2020).[2] It has 25 members in its communal council.[5] The commune is part of the national electricity network and is involved in major development programs including a 25 MW solar photovoltaic plant to be built over 96 hectares.[4] Pobè has a budget primitif de près de **1,976,786,921 FCFA** pour l’année 2021, visant notamment l’amélioration des routes, de l’école, et des services sociaux.[8]
Culture, Language, and Ethnic Groups
[edit]The population of Pobè includes several ethnic and linguistic groups: Nago, Yoruba, Holli, Goun, Fon, and Adja.[2][3] The commune has a strong tradition of craftsmanship: wood carving, pottery, weaving are practiced. It also hosts cultural festivals, sacred forests, and traditional rituals, particularly in rural arrondissements and villages.[4][7]
Climate and Environment
[edit]Pobè has a subequatorial climate with two rainy seasons and two dry seasons.[7] The relief is made up of plateaus and depressions; soils include fertile clay, limestone outcrops, and sandy loam. The village of Onigbolo in Issaba has notably rich limestone deposits.[4][2] There are relic forests and forest patches (îlots forestiers) and potential for solar energy development due to good insolation.[5][4]
Governance
[edit]The commune of Pobè is administered under Benin’s decentralization law. The mayor and communal council oversee development, budgeting, and public services.[2] Pobè is also notable for being the seat (chef-lieu) of the Plateau Department since 2016.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "GeoHive". Archived from the original on 2006-10-16.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Commune de Pobe". Ministère de la Décentralisation et de la Gouvernance Locale. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ a b "Pobè - ANCB". Association Nationale des Communes du Bénin. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Destination Bénin : Pobè, hommage à Onigbolo pour son calcaire qui construit le Bénin". Gouvernement de la République du Bénin. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Pobè – CCP". Communes et Collectivités du Bénin (CCP). Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ "Pobè (Commune, Benin) - Population Statistics". CityPopulation.de. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ a b c "Monographie de la Commune de Pobè". Afrique Conseil & partenaires. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ "Pobè se dote d'un ambitieux budget de 1.976.786.921 FCFA pour 2021". Boulevard des Infos. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ "Plateau Department - Préfecture". Ministère de la Décentralisation. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
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