Sites and monuments of Bauchi State

By Wale Ojo-Lanre - updated: Wednesday 18-02-2009

Gov. Isa YugudaBauchi State lies between 9.3o and 12.3o north of the equator, and 8.5o and 11o east of the Greenwich Meridian. The state is bordered by eight states: Kano, Jigawa, Plateau, to the west; Adamawa, Taraba,Yobe and Gombe to the North East; and Kaduna tothe North West. The state covers a total land area of 549,260 sq. kilometers, about 5.3% of Nigeria’s totalland mass.

Brief History
What is today known as Bauchi State was created in 1976 from the then North-Eastern State of Nigeria. According to the 1991 census, the state had a population of 3,836,333 after the creation of Gombe State in 1996.

Bauchi state is one of the states in the Northern part of Nigeria that spans two distinctive vegetation zones, namely the sudan Savannah and the Sahel Savannah. The Sudan savannah type of vegetation covers the southern part of the state. Here, the vegetation gets richer and richer towards the South, especially along water sources or rivers, but generally the vegetation is less uniform and grasses are shorter than what obtains further south, that is in the forest zone of the middle belt.

The Sahel type of savannah, which is also known as the semi-desert vegetation, becomes manifest from the middle of the state as one moves from the south to the northern part of the state. This type of vegetation comprises isolated stands of thorny shrubs. On the other hand, the southern part of the state is mountainous as a result of the continuation of the Jos-Plateau,while the northern part is generally sandy.

Bauchi state has gone through series of transformation, from the colonial era up to independence, it formed part of the Bauchi-Plateau of the then Northern Region until the 1967 state creation exercise,when together with Borno and Adamawa provinces, it constituted the former North Eastern State.

Since its creation in 1976 to date, the state has had fourteen (14) Chief Executives, including both military and civilian rulers. They a re as follows:

Lt. Col. Mohammed Bello Khaliel 1976-1978

Col. Garba Duba1978-1979

Alhaji Abubakar Tatari Ali (Late) 1979-1983

Brigadier MOhammed Sani Sami 1983-1985

Col. Chris Abutu Garuba 1985-1988

Col. Joshua Madaki (Late) 1988-1990

Col. Abu Ali 1990-1991

Alhaji Dahiru Mohammed (Late) 1991-1993

Wing Cdr. James Y. Kalace (Late) 1993-1994

Navy Capt. Rasheed Adisa Raji 1994-1996

Col. Theophilus Oladapo Bamigboye 1996-1998

Wing Cdr. Abdul Adamu Mshelia1998-1999

Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu 1999 -2007

Mallam Isa Yuguda 2007 to date

There are 20 Local Government Areas in Bauchi State, namely: Alkaleri,Bauchi, Bogoro, Dambam, Darazo, Dass, Gamawa, Ganjuwa, Giade, Itas/Gadau, Jama’are, Katagum, Kirfi, Misau, Ningi, Shira, Tafawa, Toro, Warji and Zaki.

Recently, His Excellency approved the creation of 40 Development Areas and posting of officers to administer them for ease of grass roots development in the state.

In addition, there are a total of 55 ethnic groups in the state which include Hausa, Fulani, Gerawa, Sayawa, Jarawa, Bulewa, Kare-Kare, Kanuri, Warjawa, Zulawa and Badawa. They have varied customs, festivals, historical backgrounds, occupational patterns and beliefs.

Nonetheless, there are cultural at similarities in the people’s language,. occupational practices, festivals and dress patterns and there is a high degree of ethnic interaction, especially in marriage and economic existence.

Bauchi state comprises six Emirates: Bauchi, Katagum, Misau,Jama’are, Ningi and Dass.

Monuments where the first prime minister
tomb lies The tomb of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
Declared a national monument and situated on Ran road within Bauchi metropolis, the tomb of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa,th first Nigerian Prime Minister, was inaugurated in 1979. The building enclosing the grave is itself a striking feature. In addition to its beautiful architectural design, it is artistically deocrated on the insdie. Once inside, the visitor is conducted through the life and times of the former Prime Minister up to his death using architectural designs.

Facilties available within the tomb are a reference library and a mosque.

The Tomb of Malam Zaki
Mallam Zaki was the son of Malam Lawal. He was the ruler of Katagum and one of the flagbearers of Shehu Usman Dan Fodio. The tomb is found outside Katagum’s defence wall. Katagum was the first administrative headquarters of the present emirate before it moved to Azare in 1914.

The first mining beacon at Tilden Fulani
In 1905, Mr. R.A. Archibury and Mr. S.W. Carpenter began tin mining at Tilden Fulani. A monument has been erected at Tilden Fulani in remembrance of the first mining site which is 109km from Bauchi town.

Panshanu stone heaps
The Kwandon Kaya stone heaps at Panshanu were gathered by the community, 80km from Bauchi, upon learning of an impending invasion by the Emir of Bauchi, Malam Yakubu.. It was as a result of this development that the community gathered pieces of stone and put them together on the route the Emir’s army was to follow. When Yakubu saw the stone heaps, he came down from his horse and prayed to Almighty Allah concerning the people of Kwandon Kaya. After the prayer, the Emir sent one of his aides to the Chief of Kwandon Kaya to inform him that his army would invade the village the next morning and they should be ready for him.

Geji Rock paintings
About 20 kilometres along Bauchi-Jos road is situated Geji. The village hosts the rock site. The rock paintings are probably the work of hunters or herdsmen who used the overhanging rocks as a temporary shelter. It is currently difficult to date the paintings. The paintings however, determine the types of animals and the importance the community attaches to them. They also inform on their occupation, creative ability and philosophy.

Rimi Jigawa rock painting (Dutsin Shira)
The Rimin Jigawa paintings share similar characteristics with the Geji Rock paintings. The explanation may be that the same inhabitants migrated from Geji to Shira, which hosts the Rimin Jigawa rock paintings and performed the same arts. They might have shared similar cultural values with the people of Geji.

They are in bolder relief and in groups of six or seven paintings of animals, the most prominent being a cow suckling its calf. The paintings are found some 24km North of Shira town. Also in Shira is another rock with a difference. The rock formation is magnificent and stands just outside Shira, providing a scenic beauty. There is the unethical water known as ‘Ruwan Kirci’ which is believed to cure all skin-related diseases.

Late Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
first Nigerian prime minister, Mbula rock, Dass Dass is 48km from Bauchi and is the administrative headquarters of Dass Local Government Area. Dass people were believed to have been living in the present location since time immemorial. They were joined later by the people from Bununu as a result of inter-tribal wars.

The first Chief of Dass moved from Bununu Kasa following a warning by the first Chief of Bununu, late Dukkurma, that the Fulani people were planning to launch a jihad against them.

When the first Emir of Bauchi finally waged war on them, he could not defeat them because of the strong defensive wall they had around them assisted by the famous Bula hill. History had it that Malam Yakubu was advised that the only way to defeat the Jarawa people of Dass was to tie ropes around the hill and pull it down. This was physically an impossible task. But even before this task was carried out, an outbreak of smallpox within the Emir’s camp led to the dispersal of his army.

At the foot of the sacred rocks are the remnants of the old buildings of the first chief’s palace and his mosque. Today, Dass hills provide a beautiful scenery, especially the way the rocks surround the town. Tourists are advised to take a trip to these hills.

Rijiyar Kawada (Kawada Well)
The ‘Rijiyark Kawada’ is a miraculous well in Darazo (Darazo Local Government ) the home of Dates palm trees and mangoes which served both the hybanating fulani herdsmen and their cattle as well as traders from old Borno and Kano. The well is 20 metres’ deep and there has not been any written record as to who was the first man to have discovered the Darazo well. Darazo could be said to be built on a serving. “WELL, while the other side of the well is like a canal which is wide and dark. It can take the visitor round the town. The actual well is on one side while the canal is on the other.

Babban Gwani was the sobriquet given to Mohammed Durugu, a genius architect of his time. He designed and built many palaces of Kings (Emirs as they are now called in the Northern part of Nigeria). Some of the palaces are in Bauchi - the Madaki’s Palace in Kafin Madaki Village of Ganjuwa Local Government Area and the Emir’s Palace in Bauchi. The seat of the Emir of Bauchi has “Babban Gwani” inscription on the doorway.

Durugu was killed by the Emir of Zazzau after building his place for fear that he might build a better one elsewhere.

His architectural designs are masterpieces. He built his palaces without any plan. Built over a century ago, these buildings are still standing as strong as ever.

NTDC adds colour to KADA 2009 - Donates 200 branded waste bins, T-shirts, First aid boxes - Accredits 22 hotels

Otunba Olusegun Runsewe addressing
the organisers of KADA 2009
during the presentation of giftsThe Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation has taken its practical tourism evangelism to KADA 2009 by adding colour to the hospitality industry in the state and the KADA games.

The corporation has made a statement through its actions and contributions to the games, that it remains the apex tourism regulatory body in Nigeria.

The NTDC clearly demonstrated its capacity, support and concern for the games when it presented an avalanche of donated items to the 22 accredited hotels during a meeting with the members of the Hoteliers Association of Nigeria, Kaduna branch, on 13 February, 2009 at Hamdala Hotel, Kaduna, under the watchful eyes of Mr. Patrick Yakowa, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna state, who also doubles as the chairman of the local organizing committee for the games.

The items presented by the NTDC in support of the KADA games included 200 branded NTDC dustbins, T – Shirts and fez caps for hotel receptionists and front desk offices, tissue papers for the 22 accredited hotels, stickers, NTDC branded jackets / press kits, as well as first aid boxes for prompt medical attention.

According to Otunba Runsewe, “the Corporation has brought a new culture of environmental and health tourism to the games” His words “we want everywhere to be KADA games-spirited”. He further stressed: “We want to make sure that NTDC is adding value to the hospitality industry, to Kaduna state and KADA games.

He reiterated that because of his management’s belief in practical tourism, there was the need to match words with action. He described Kaduna State as the “newest baby born” in the history of Nigeria, because it was the first time ever that hotels would be given accreditation before an event of such magnitude.

The NTDC boss affirmed that the government of Kaduna state has set a standard in hosting the games built; the NTDC had to support the bold step of the state government by adding value to the games. His words; “We saw the genuine reason, the seriousness of the state in making the KADA games a huge success:”

The Chief tourism regulator in Nigeria further stated that the NTDC had inspected 50 hotels in Kaduna out of which only 22 of them met the standard for accreditation. He appealed to the hotels which could not meet the set standard to prepare well for future exercises.

He emphasised that the hospitality industry is the highest employer of labour in the world and Kaduna state was the hub of activity in Nigeria, hence the Corporation had decided to add value to the industry. He added that anybody who builds a hotel as a friend of the nation and should be encouraged.

It is instructive to mention that the NTDC practically distributed the branded items to all the 22 accredited hotels in Kaduna. This is unprecedented. No director-general of the NTDC had ever done this.

In his response, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna state, Mr. Patrick Yakowa, commended the NTDC for conceiving the idea of impacting practically on the games through such magnanimous donations of branded items. He said th is the first time in the history of major events in Nigeria that this kind of thing has been done”.

Mr. Yakowa further expressed his appreciation to NTDC with these words: “We are very appreciative for coming to partner and collaborate with us to ensure sure that this sports festival is a huge success”. He commended NTDC for this initiative. According to him, “You have set a standard for the NTDC, this is the first time we are having a DG NTDC doing it” he mentioned that tourism in Nigeria should be enhanced during Otunba Runsewe’s tenure.

Items donated to KADA 2009 by NTDCHe added that Kaduna was making history being the first time an Olympic size swimming pool would be used for the national sports festival. The no.2 citizen of Kaduna state explained that the idea behind the games was to bring together our youths to compete favourably for medals regardless of religious differences or tribe.

The deputy governor later presented some NTDC accredited certificates to the 22 hotels and commissioned the branded dustbins which were donated for the games by NTDC. While commissioning the dustbins on behalf of the state Governor Arc Namadi Sambo, he said; “I have the single honour and privilege to cut this tape and thereby commission these “dustbins has been donated by NTDC to keep Kaduna clean, to keep our environment clean and to keep our hotels clean. So, I have the pleasure to do this, thank you and God bless”, he concluded.

In the words of the president of the Hotelier Association of Nigeria, Kaduna branch, Alhaji Inusa Maiwada, “you have taken all, of us by surprise, and had shown that NTDC is the supervising regulatory Authority”. He further stressed that what the NTDC had done was to set a standard which the hoteliers would strive to meet. The president urged NTDC to come back for more accreditation of hotels, even after KADA games if only for FIFA 2009 games.

Also contributing, the Managing Director of Hamdala Hotel, Alhaji Muhammad Auwalu Haruna, thanked the NTDC for using Hamdala Hotel for the stakeholders meeting. According to him, “We have seen that the management of NTDC is very focused and visionary” He affirmed that the NTDC had become the flagship of the tourism industry in Nigeria. The management of the hotel later presented to the NTDC helmsman some souvenir items as a token of their appreciation for the support they had enjoyed from the Apex tourism body.

he 16th National Sports Festival tagged Kada 2009 formally kicked off on 15th February, 2009, at Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.