From Vision to Reality: How Gov Bala Mohammed is Rebuilding Bauchi State

Bauchi Urban and Rural Renewal Projects: The Bala Mohammed Initiative. 

By Umar Usman Duguri. 

The idea to remodel Bauchi State was mooted long ago as part of a master plan to establish a buoyant business friendly-state but failed until the coming of Governor Bala Mohamed as the 6th civilian governor of the state,.

His coming is a blessing to the people of the state who had poor economy tht could not strengthen business and social well-being. 

From the northern to western and from Eastern to southern boundaries,  the state lacked good road network linking  the metropolis or the local areas. The shambolic situation had worsened with many live lost on terrible roads: reckless usage of few inherited good roads within the capital city not to talk of remaining local government areas whose votes always counted in the unprecedented years of democracy.

Governor Bala Mohamed had begun to justify the confidence of the people from meritocratic belief to reality of the matter at stake. The agrarian populace smiled with pride on the development unfolding.. Hope returned to farmers and the entire populace. 

Over the years, the federal, state and local governments have been organizing series of events, meetings, symposiums, lectures and town hall meetings/discursions to chart a way to the looming situation that has had negative effects on the lives of the populace whose majority are poor. Perhaps, little progress has been made in addressing the situation that has consequence on the environmental degradation, terrestrial lives and the aquatic ones.

To make a better difference and adhere strictly to the brainy master plan to remodel and expand Bauchi state after number of years of abandonment plus the rapid human occupancy in one of the most visited tourist, influx trooping the  peaceful state, Bauchi, Governor Bala Mohammed made it a priority to act on the blueprint for a better and ordered society to compete with modern developed cities in Nigeria.

After careful study on the topography of the existing sardined boulevard of the state, Governor Bala Mohammed, as human with limited knowledge sought the advices from relevant city developers on how to expand and establish a model city with befitting environment  as he did when he transformed the Federal Capital Territory )FCT) Abuja as a minister to ease gridlock on major highways in the , metropolitan roads and provide a buoy for easy description. A decision borne out of contention and fulfillment of founding fathers of the state, whose vision was yet to be actualized despite quantum hope by impatience electorate.

Today, Governor Bala Mohamed, is justifying the confidence of the people from  his meritocratic belief to reality of the matter.. The economic activities peaked up from lowest ebb of to 10% percent ration peak in fraction. 

To ensure an attractive state, Senator Bala Mohammed promised to enhance viable businesses potentials in the state, strengthen the desire needs to make it real through remodeling, constructions and renovation of roads linking from different angles in the state. 

Amid, the fluctuating economic meltdown, measures have been put effort in place to make the state more buoyant to drag investors without hitches. 

After careful studying of the state’s blueprint, the Peoples Democratic Party led administration kick-started the Bauchi Urban and rural renewal Projects, aimed at giving the state a new facelift from major boundaries of the state.

These set of roads projects was not only borne out of passion and pride, they signify a desired commitment and onerous task of building a more prosperous atmosphere worthy of emulation. 

These remained the Governor’s greatest developmental gait ever since his assumption to office as well as ‘Hallmark’.  

Perhaps the Bauchi Urban Renewal Project (BURP) which has just commenced to give the cosmopolitan city not only a new look but raised its advancement in comparable to any state capital in the federation, upper class capitals such as kano, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, the nation’s capital city Abuja amongst others.

The projects entail the provision of dual-carriage ways of all entry point roads into the city of Bauchi. 

Some of these roads are the Awalah hotel to Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Awalah to Yuli site of the State University, BAHA to Bauchi new Cemetery, as well as the Awalah to Miri, Adamu Jumba road expansion, Dualisation of Sam Njoma road, Muda Lawal And Yakubun Bauchi/Behind Nitel Quarters  Sabon Kaura – Jos Road,  General Hospital Road and Tafawa Balewa Road Azare, Sade – Akuyam Road, Yelwan Duguri – Burga Road, Emergency Repairs Of Washout Along Alkaleri – Gwaram – Gokaru Road, Murtala Mohammed – Railway Asphalt Works,  Gwagwangwan – Bakaro & Others  Bununu Township Roads  Contract, Disina Township Roads And Flood Control, Jalam Road Washout.  

Others are; the accelerated development within Bauchi, Karofin Madakin – Kan Kasuwan Railwa, Stadium/Rijiyan Bauchi – Unguwan Tudun Yaya, Kasuwa – yakubu Wanka – Babangida Square, Bata – Nufawa – Unguwan Jaki, Adamu Bazamfare – Makera, Doya – Inkil, Railway – Sade – House – unguwar Hardo – Karofin Madaki and numerous expansions in GRA. 

Others are:  the giving-way of the old roundabouts in the city to new and modern ones, including two envisaged flyovers at Wunti and by the Central market, as well as other connectivity inter-roads in the city of Bauchi. 

More so, the Bauchi Urban Renewal Project, according to the state commissioner of works and transport, Professor Ketkukah Saul Titus, has its tentacles spread to virtually all parts of the twenty Local Government Areas the state which includes: Jajuwa – Ganye – Golfada, Siri – Miya – Warji, Darazo –  Gabchiyari, Boi – Tapshin, Kirfi – Gombe Abba, Itas – Gadau and Dukayel – Bakin Kogi.

Others chaining project tentacles are; Giade – Kurba – Basirka, Hanafari – Jurara, Dass – Bununu, Kamfanin Kutare – Jai Gada, Yelwan Duguri – Kumbala – Kundat, Udubo – Gamawa, Bogoro – Lusa, Yashi – Yuli, Soro – Miya, Warji – Gwaram, Maraba – Ganye, and Sade – Akuyam, and dualization of Ningi township road, police station of Ningi Emirs palace roads, dualisation of Jama’are road, new bye pass road at Alkaleri. The Renewal Project is specifically geared to address infrastructural deficits in Bauchi state, especially in roads and other major important issues such as investment in schools, hospitals, among others.

The numerous road urban and rural projects completed by Senator Bala Mohammed’s administration is a deliberate desire to promote businesses, and boost modern farming which is the backbone of the state economy as well as improving security within the communities and facilitate the sustenance of the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the state.

With these monumental completed and ongoing roads projects with modernize lighting system is making Bauchi state more attractive in the night like face of new bride. Bauchi state with have a new look from all the four major boundaries of the state, added to rapid peak of economic development as well as reducing gridlock both from within and outside the state capital, plus the abandoned roads in many local government areas of the state.  

Half a century away from being an independent state, Bauchi state is steadily moving to the Eldorado in the hand of Senator Bala Mohamed through multiple drives in roads and other infrastructures. Had Nosradamus is alive, he would have dream a a ‘New Developing City’ and center of commerce in the west African Region which already plans are underway to host a mega world economic sumit in Bauchi state where captains and actors of industries would explore and tapped opportunities.