INTRODUCTION

Bauchi State is one of the six states that form the North-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It is bounded by Jigawa and Kano States to the Northwest; Kaduna State to the West; Plateau, Taraba and Gombe States to the South; and Yobe State to the East. Bauchi is the state capital.

LANDMASS, LOCATION AND POPULATION

Bauchi State covers an area of 49,119.1 square kilometres. It lies at latitude 10°30’ North and longitude 10°00’ East. It has a population of 4,653,066 (2006 census) 6,537,314 (2016 forecast) and a population density of 95. The state accounts for 3.31% of Nigeria's total population.

HISTORY AND PEOPLE

Before the Fulani jihad, the Bauchi region was inhabited by a large number of small tribes, some of which spoke languages related to Hausa and were Muslims. The province of Bauchi was conquered between 1809 and 1818 by Fulani warriors led by Yakubu, the son of a local Gerawa ruler who was educated at Sokoto under Usman dan Fodio. He founded Bauchi town in 1809.
The subjects revolted successfully under the rule of his son and successor, Emir Ibrahim ibn Yakubu. Emir Usman moved the capital to Rauta (35 miles Northwest) in 1877, but Bauchi became the emirate headquarters again in 1902 when the British occupied the town and deposed Emir Umaru. 
The town served as the colonial provincial capital from 1904 to 1911 and again from 1917 to 1924. In 1926, it became the headquarters of the Bauchi province of the Northern Region during the colonial era. In the 1967 state creation by General Yakubu Gowon's military government, Bauchi became a part of Northeastern State. The state was again carved up in 1996 when Gombe State was excised from it.
The name of the state is said to derive from the name of a famous hunter, Baushe. The word also means slavery or the land of slaves in Hausa. Bauchi and Adamawa were the two main sources of slaves for the Sokoto Empire.
The majority of Bauchi's inhabitants are Muslims. The state instituted sharia law in 2001.

MAIN TOWNS AND CITIES

Bauchi (capital), Azare, Ningi, Jama-are Tafawa Balewa, Zaki, Katagum, Miau and Dass.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS

ADMINISTRATORS AND GOVERNORS

Mohammed Bello Khaliel (Administrator – Military): March 1976 – July 1978
Garba Duba (Administrator – Military): July 1978 – October 1979
Abubakar Tatari Ali (Governor – Civilian (National Party of Nigeria)): October 1979 – December 1983
Mohammed Sani Sami (Administrator – Military): January 1984 – August 1985
Chris Garuba (Administrator – Military): August 1985 – December 1987
Joshua Madaki (Administrator – Military): December 1987 – August 1990
Abu Ali (Administrator – Military): August 1990 – January 1992
Dahiru Mohammed (Governor – Civilian (National Republican Convention)): January 1992 – November 1993
James Kalau (Administrator – Military): December 1993 – September 1994
Rasheed Adisa Raji (Administrator – Military): September 1994 – August 1996
Theophilus Bamigboye (Administrator – Military): August 1996 – August 1998
Abdul Mshelia (Administrator – Military): August 1998 – May 1999
Adamu Mu'azu (Governor – Civilian (People’s Democratic Party)): May 1999 – May 2007
Isa Yuguda (Governor – Civilian (All Nigeria Peoples Party/People’s Democratic Party)): May 2007 – May 2015
Mohammed Abubakar (Governor- Civilian (All Progressive Party Congress)): May 2015- May 2019
Bala Mohammed (Governor-Civilian (People’s Democratic Party):  May 2019 - Present.

ECONOMY AND EDUCATION

Bauchi is an agricultural state and produces corn, yams, rice, cassava, tomatoes, vegetables, millet, groundnut and guinea corn. The Balanga, Gubi and Tilde-Fulani dams aid irrigation farming. Bauchi is one of the country's main cotton-producing states; coffee and groundnuts are its other cash crops. Animal rearing and production, particularly cattle, goats, sheep, donkeys and pigs are important in the state. Poultry is also significant.
Bauchi State indigenes also produce arts and crafts including embroidered caps and gowns (known as babanriga), fibre craft, decorated calabashes, metal work, agricultural tools, pottery, leather work and mat weaving. Cotton weaving and dyeing, tanning and blacksmithing are other traditional activities.
The state has several mineral deposits, including gold, cassiterite (tin ore), columbite, gypsum, wolfram, coal, limestone and lignite. Cassiterite is mined in places such as Gamau and Maijuju. Quarrying of granite and other rocks for road and other construction takes place in the south-western parts of the state, especially in Toro LGA. There are clay deposits in Darazo, Misau and Udubo. 
The state's industries include meat-product processing and canning, groundnut processing, vegetable-oil milling, ceramics production and cotton ginning. There is also an assembly plant for commercial vehicles and trucks – Styer Nigeria Ltd as well as the Gwana cement factory.
The tertiary institutions in the state include Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi; Federal College of Education, Bauchi; Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi; Bauchi Women Teachers' Arabic College, Azare; Bauchi State College of Education, Azare; AD Rufa'i College for Legal and Islamic Studies, Miau; and Bauchi School of Health Technology, Ningi.

FAMOUS SITES AND CULTURE
Sites
Yankari National Park, Mainamaji
 

Yankari National Park is the largest wildlife park in Nigeria. It is located in the south-central part of Bauchi State and was established as a game reserve in 1956. It covers 2,244 square kilometres. In 1991 it became a national park.
The park contains the Wikki Warm Springs, giraffes, leopards, baboons, antelopes, elephants, hippopotamuses, hyenas, lions and crocodiles.

Sumu Wildlife Park, Kafin Madaki

Built by the Bauchi State government in 2006 to boost tourism in the state, the Sumu Wildlife Park is located in Kafin Madaki, Ganjuwa local government area of the state. The park is home to wildlife such as gorillas, zebras, giraffes and crocodiles.

Dukkey Wells, Mainamaji

Dukkey Wells is located within Yankari National Park and served as resting place for slave traders more than 300 years ago. It is a water storage system comprising 136 wells with interconnecting shafts. 

Culture

Bauchi is home to diverse cultural activities and people of the state display these in unique ways.
Over the years, the state has become synonymous with festivals such as the durbar and kyaro war dance. The durbar festival in particular attracts enthusiasts from outside the state who come for its horse racing and other exhilarating activities.
Traditional wrestling and boxing contests are staged and participants from neighbouring countries, Chad and Niger, are invited to add excitement to the events.

NOTABLE INDIGENES

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1912 – 1966)

Sa’adu Zungur (1915 – 1958)

DID YOU KNOW

Bauchi has a total of 55 tribal groups and 42 languages.