The urban area is majorly located in the Nigerian state of Nasarawa, but with some parts stretching into the boundaries of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

[6] Since the beginning of the 20th century, these districts have grown together into a large urban area and a major commercial centre of central Nigeria.

[8] In 2003, Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, then minister of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, wished to regain control of the population explosion of Abuja, which had led to the deterioration of the city's infrastructure.

[10] The campaign made hundreds of thousands of residents homeless,[11][12][13] as the remaining decent accommodation was highly priced,[14] and lands approved for residential areas were too expensive for those on an average income,[15] because of Abuja's status as the capital of Africa's oil giant, Nigeria,[16] a country where most people live on less than US$2 a day.

The Greater Karu Urban Area has the tropical savanna climate of central Nigeria, with alternating rainy and dry seasons.

Rainfall in the Urban Area is high owing to its location on the windward side of the Jos Plateau and the zone of rising air masses.

[22] The agglomeration in the Karu area has attracted private investments in education to provide for the growing young and illiterate adult population.