History

Bauchi is a state in northeastern Nigeria. Before 1976, it was a province in the former North-Eastern State. It shares borders with Jigawa and Kano to the northwest, Kaduna to the west, Plateau, Taraba, and Gombe to the south, and Yobe to the east. The highlands in the southwestern part of the state are an extension of the Jos Plateau.

The Gongola River, originating from the Jos Plateau, flows northeast before turning southward, roughly marking the southern half of the state's eastern boundary. Bauchi is home to diverse ethnic groups, including the Tangale, Waja (Wajawa), Fulani, and Hausa. The state also contains several traditional Muslim emirates. According to tradition, it was named after a hunter called Baushe, who lived in the area before Yakubu, the first ruler of the Bauchi Emirate, established in the early 19th century.

Agriculture is the backbone of Bauchi’s economy, with crops like millet, sorghum, maize, yams, rice, cassava, tomatoes, and vegetables widely cultivated. The state is a key cotton producer, alongside other cash crops such as coffee and peanuts. Livestock farming is also significant, with cattle, goats, and sheep being raised. Irrigation schemes introduced in the mid-1970s boosted production.

Bauchi has abundant mineral resources, including alluvial tin, columbite, cassiterite, coal, limestone, iron ore, antimony, and marble. Traditional industries such as cotton weaving, dyeing, tanning, and blacksmithing thrive alongside modern industries like meat processing, vegetable oil milling, peanut processing, and cotton ginning. The state also houses an assembly plant for commercial vehicles and a cement factory.

Bauchi town, the state capital, serves as a major transportation hub, connected by rail to Maiduguri and Kafanchan and by road to other parts of Nigeria. The state is also home to Yankari National Park, a popular tourist destination known for its Wikki Warm Spring. Bauchi covers an area of 45,837 square kilometers and had a population of 4,676,465 as of 2006.