By Rabiu Sulaiman Dankani – Cites large population, economic potential, security, and development as basis for request The Burra...
By Rabiu Sulaiman Dankani
– Cites large population, economic potential, security, and development as basis for request
The Burra community in Ningi Local Government Area has submitted a memorandum to the House of Representatives Committee on the Amendment of the 1999 Constitution, requesting the creation of Burra Local Government Area from the current Ningi LGA.
Presenting the memorandum during a public hearing organized by the committee in Gombe on Friday, the leader of the community delegation, Alhaji Zakari Hussaini Burra, said the demand for local government status dates back over 50 years. He said the community believes that achieving this status would catalyze rapid economic and social development in the area.
This latest submission comes barely a week after the same memorandum was presented to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendment during its public hearing in Maiduguri, Borno State.
According to Alhaji Zakari, Burra is the oldest district in Nigeria without local government status. It was established in 1902 and lies more than 111 kilometers from Ningi, the current LGA headquarters. Burra shares borders with six local government areas—Takai, Sumaila, Tudun Wada, and Doguwa in Kano State; Toro in Bauchi State; and Birnin Kudu in Jigawa State.
He noted that the long distance from both the LGA and state headquarters (an additional 100 kilometers from Ningi to Bauchi) poses serious security, administrative, and developmental challenges. The total distance from Bauchi, the state capital, to Burra is approximately 211 kilometers.
He also cited demographic evidence, stating that the population of the proposed Burra LGA was 173,112 in the 2006 census and is projected to reach 340,987 by 2025, based on an annual growth rate of 3.7%.
The proposed Burra LGA would consist of the current Burra District, which comprises five village head areas—Burra, Kurmi, Sama, Kyata, and Bashe—with over 300 villages and hamlets under their jurisdiction.
“The district has a long history dating back to the 18th century. In 1902, it was merged with Ningi and Warji districts under colonial administration to form the Ningi Native Authority, later renamed Ningi Local Government Area after the 1976 local government reform,” he explained.
With a landmass of 2,348 square kilometers, Alhaji Zakari said the proposed LGA has ample space to support development initiatives, accommodate population growth, and expand agricultural and economic activities.
He highlighted the area's agricultural potential, describing it as rich in fertile soil, abundant rainfall, and a hardworking population. The community cultivates a variety of crops including guinea corn, maize, millet, beans, wheat, rice, cassava, yams, soybeans, cotton, groundnuts, and pepper, alongside livestock farming.
Burra is also endowed with mineral resources such as tin ore, gypsum, columbite, tantalite, wolfram (tungsten), and various gemstones. The Lame-Burra Game Reserve—second only to Yankari Game Reserve—is also located in the district. When fully developed, he said, it could significantly boost tourism and revenue for the proposed local government.
On human resources, he said Burra has many experienced civil servants across various levels of government who are ready to contribute to the administration and development of the new local government if created.
He therefore appealed to the National Assembly to consider and approve the long-standing request, saying the people of Burra have been historically marginalized and remain disconnected from the center of governance.
In his response, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Amendment for the Northeast, Hon. Usman Bello Kumo, assured the delegation that the committee would do everything possible to ensure the realization of their demand for local government status.
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