By Khalid Idris Doya The Senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, has stated that Bauch...
By Khalid Idris Doya
The Senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, has stated that Bauchi South is in greater need of additional local government areas (LGAs), citing population growth and vast land coverage as key reasons.
Buba stated this while speaking with journalists yesterday in Bauchi fellows the North-East Zonal Public Hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution held in Maiduguri, said the demand for more LGAs is a top priority for his constituents.
"Our request was submitted by the technical committee during the zonal public hearing," he stated.
"Toro, Alkaleri, and Bauchi LGAs are among the largest in Nigeria, both in size and population. For instance, Toro alone is almost the size of a state in the southern part of the country."
Senator Buba revealed that specific demands have been submitted for new local governments across his senatorial district include in Toro LGA were they summited a proposals for the creation of Lame and Jama’a LGAs; in Bauchi LGA they requested for Galambi, Birshi, Zungur, and Bauchi Munsifa LGAs.
According to him in Alkaleri local government area a proposals for Gwana and Yankari LGAs were submitted while Tafawa Balewa local government area, requested for Lere North, Lere South, and Bula LGAs were submitted.
He also mentioned that numerous new federal wards were proposed in the technical report, which was chaired by former Minister of Justice, Hon. Ibrahim Umar.
Senator Buba acknowledged that the path toward constitutional amendment and creation of new state and local government areas would not be without challenges.
"Even before the zonal hearings began, the Senate received over 46 proposals for state creation alone," he noted.
"In Nigeria, there are currently 36 states and 774 local governments; adding more will require a rigorous constitutional process involving the National Assembly, state legislatures, the judiciary, and the President."
Despite the challenges, he believes the effort is justified, "Our population has exceeded 250 million, and we in the North especially need more local government areas to bring governance closer to the people."
He highlighted the importance of recognising their eligibility for the creation of additional local government areas, citing Toro LGA as an example, where traveling across the area can take several hours due to its vast expanse.
"For example, in Toro Local Government Area, you can travel up to 200 kilometers, and its the same in Alkaleri. If you're heading to Gwana or Mansur, you must pass through Dindima before reaching Mansur, a journey that takes about three to four hours and covers approximately 180 kilometers.
"We are geographically vast and densely populated, which is why we genuinely need more local governments," he noted.
The Senator’s position echoes sentiments expressed during a recent townhall summit held in collaboration with the APC Bauchi South Zonal Executive Committee, where stakeholders called for more LGAs, constitutional roles for traditional rulers, and even the creation of a new state from parts of Bauchi.
Hon. Abdulmumini Mohammed Kundak, Chairman of the Zonal Constitution Review Committee, noted that the summit served as a platform to capture diverse opinions and build consensus reflective of the region’s aspirations.
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