Bauchi (earlier Yakoba) is a city in northeast Nigeria, the Administrative center of Bauchi State, of the Bauchi Local Government Area within that State, and of the traditional Bauchi Emirate. It is located on the northern edge of the Jos Plateau, at an elevation of 616 m. The Local Government Area covers an area of 3,687 km2 and had a population of 493,810 in 2006.[2]
Bauchi City is among the twenty Local Government Areas of Bauchi state:
The emirate was founded (1800–10) by Yakubu, one of Sheikh Usman dan Fodio's commanders. Yakubu conquered a sparsely wooded savanna region (the Bauchi High Plains) mainly inhabited by non-Muslim peoples. After successful campaigns,he founded (1809) the town of Bauchi. Yakubu built the town’s walls, the circumference of which measures 6.5 miles (10.5 km).
The only non-Fulani flag-bearer of the Sokoto Empire. The name was derived from a hunter called Baushe, who advised Yaqub to build his city west of the Warinje mountain. In return Yaqub promised to name his city after the hunter.
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Several of the subject peoples successfully revolted 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 once again became the emirate headquarters when, in 1902, the British occupied the town and deposed Emir Umaru. The town served as the provincial capital from 1904 until 1911 and again from 1917 to 1924. In 1926 it became the headquarters of Bauchi province and in 1976, it became the capital of the newly created Bauchi state.
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa is buried in the city, while the Yankari National Park is 110 km from the state capital.
The city lies on the Port Harcourt – Maidugurirailway line. The Bauchi State Library Board was established in 1976.[5]
With the coming of the railway in 1961, Bauchi grew as a collecting point for peanuts (groundnuts) and cotton and a trade centre in sorghum, millet, cowpeas, corn (maize), cassava, and vegetables and in cattle, goats, and sheep. Cotton weaving and dyeing, tanning, and blacksmithing are traditional activities. The town’s industry includes an asbestos factory and a meat-products processing plant. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (1980; originally called Federal University of Technology) and a federal polytechnic college are in the town. Pop. (2006) local government area, 493,810; (2016 est.) 415,000.[1]
Transport
Bauchi was originally served by a narrow gauge762 mm (2 ft 6 in) light railway, but this was later converted to the normal gauge of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in).[6]
Up until August, 2014, Bauchi was served by Bauchi Airport, located in-town. Scheduled airline service was then transferred to the newly constructed Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, 23 kilometres (14 mi) north of Bauchi, near the village of Durum.[7]
Climate
In Bauchi, the dry season is partially cloudy and hot all year round, while the wet season is oppressive and overcast. The average annual temperature ranges from 57 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, with occasional exceptions when it falls below 51 or rises over 104.
The greatest time of year to visit Bauchi for warm-weather activities, according to the tourist score, is from early December to early February.[2]
Bauchi state is among the advanced centers of learning in Nigeria. It has many public and private institutions, These include universities own by the state and others own by federal government of Nigeria, other institutions present in the state are
polytechnics, monothecnic, colleges of education, health technology institutions, secondary schools and primary schools.
Ceremonial ruler of Bauchi under a red-white parasol on a white horse, 1970–1973.Ceremonial ruler of Bauchi under a red-white parasol on a white horse, 1970–1973.Rich horsemen at the Sallah festivities in Bauchi, 1970–1973.
^"Klimatafel von Bauchi / Nigeria"(PDF). Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
Nigeria
