By Abdullahi Alhassan
The Burra community in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State has formally submitted a memorandum to the House of Representatives Committee on the Amendment of the 1999 Constitution, advocating for the creation of a new Burra Local Government Area.
Presenting the memorandum during a public hearing held in Gombe, the leader of the delegation, Alhaji Zakari Hussaini Burra, said the request is rooted in a long-standing aspiration dating back over five decades.
According to him, the demand for a separate local government is driven by Burra’s vast population, significant economic potential, strategic location, and pressing security and administrative challenges.
Alhaji Zakari noted that Burra, established as far back as 1902, is Nigeria’s oldest district yet to attain local government status.
He highlighted its geographic isolation, being over 111 kilometers from the current Ningi Local Government Headquarters and approximately 211 kilometers from Bauchi, the state capital, as a major impediment to development and effective governance.
The submission to the House of Representatives follows a similar presentation made to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendment during a recent public hearing in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Citing 2006 census data, Alhaji Zakari reported that Burra’s population stood at 173,112, and is projected to have grown to about 340,987 by 2025, based on an estimated annual growth rate of 3.7%.
He emphasized that the proposed Burra Local Government Area would comprise the existing Burra District, including five village areas, Burra, Kurmi, Sama, Kyata, and Bashe, encompassing over 300 villages and hamlets.
With a landmass of 2,348 square kilometers, the district is said to be well-equipped to support infrastructure development, agricultural expansion, and economic diversification.
Alhaji Zakari further outlined Burra’s agricultural wealth, noting its fertile land, favorable weather, and vibrant farming activities which produce staple crops such as maize, millet, soybeans, groundnuts, and pepper, alongside a thriving livestock sector.
He also highlighted Burra’s untapped mineral resources—tin ore, gypsum, columbite, tantalite, tungsten, and gemstones, as well as the Lame-Burra Game Reserve, which he described as a tourism asset with significant revenue potential, second only to Yankari Game Reserve in the state.
On human capital, Alhaji Zakari emphasized that Burra has a pool of experienced professionals across various levels of public service who are prepared to contribute meaningfully to the administration of the proposed local government.
He appealed to the National Assembly to approve the request, stressing that local government status would bring governance closer to the people and unlock the community’s full development potential.
Responding, the Chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendment for the Northeast, Hon. Usman Bello Kumo, commended the Burra community for their well-articulated presentation and assured them that the committee would give the request serious consideration.
He pledged the committee’s support in ensuring that the aspirations of the Burra people are brought to fruition in the ongoing constitutional amendment process
