Nassarawa state is one of the young states in Nigeria, created in 1996 out of its neighboring state, plateau state.  With its prime location in the center of the nation, Nassarawa state acts as a major distribution hub for agricultural products. According to the 1991 census, a little more than 2 million people reside in the state, of which 80 percent are subsistence farmers.  The state has 13 local governments with the state capital located in Lafia.  The national government has called Nassarawa a hot spot due to the rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Prevalence rates average 6.5%, but go as high as 8.9% in concentrated communities as reported by the 2005 national survey.