HISTORY OF BIDA LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Bida Local Government was established in 1901, as a Local Government Authority during the British rule under the Emir Mohammad Makun. This was after subjugation of Nupe Headquarter (i.e. Bida) by the British expedition of Lord Fredric Lugard in 1897.

The then Local Authority was made up of 17 districts, each with a district head. The districts are Bida, Badeggi, Katch, Dzwafu, Gbangba, Wuya, Dokota, Egbako, Kutigi, Kudu, Sakpe, Lemu, Kataeregi, Kusotacin, Mokwa, Kede and Jima. All the districts had 96 villages under them.

In 1930, the seventeen (17) Districts were merged into the following: Bida, Badeggi, Katcha, Lemu, Doko, Kutigi, Mokwa and Kede. It was at this time that the native authority came into being.

In 1963, Native Authority was substituted with Local Authority. The Local Authority lived up to 1976 when the Local Government reform came into being as a result of the enactment of the Local Government Edict of 1976. This brought into existence Gbako Local Government Area with the following districts. Bida, Badeggi, Katch and Lemu. Edozhigi district was later created out of Lemu in 1982.

In 1979, the then civilian administration created more Local Governments as a result of which Gbako Local Government was divided into 3 Local Government Areas, namely: Gbako (with headquarters at Katcha), Lemu (with headquarters at Lemu), and Bida (with headquarters at Bida).

However, in 1984, the Federal Military Government after lopping the then civilian administration of Alh. Shehu Shagari merged the created Local Governments with their mother Local Governments. For this, the former Gbako Local Government came back, with headquarters at Bida. Moreso, the Local Government has five (5) districts: Bida, Katcha, Badeggi, Edozhigi and Lemu districts respectively.

In 1991, the Federal Military Government created more Local Government Areas throughout the country, Gbako Local Government was then split into two (2) Local Government Areas, namely Bida Local Government Area with headquarter at Bida and Gbako Local Government Area with headquarters at Lemu.

In 1986, the creation of Katcha Local Government out of Bida Local Government by the Military Government reduced the districts in Bida Local Government into (2) namely: Bida South and North districts.

Bida Local Government in Niger State shares boundary with Gbako Local Government to the north, Katcha Local Government to the east, Lavun Local Government Area to the south and western boundaries are shared with Lavun and Katcha Local Government Areas.

The Secretariat of Bida Local Government is situated near the Emir’s Palace. Bida Local Government has a population of about 1.150 million people.

OCCUPATION

The main occupation of the people of Bida is predominantly farming, that is, crop production and animal husbandry. A good number of occupants are also in the civil services and private organisation.

TRIBES

The indigenous language spoken by inhabitants of Bida Local Government is Nupe. There are other Nigerian tribes such as Ibo, Yoruba and Hausa resident in this area. Fulanis are also found in reasonable number too. The Bida Emirate is ruled by Fulani Royal dynast.

SOCIAL AMENITIES

The town enjoys numerous social amenities such as modern market, hotels, stadium, electricity, pipe borne water, telecommunication, TV and Radio houses and many other recreation centres.

CLIMATE

The climate of Bida is characterized by heavy rainfall during raining seasons, and comparatively hot during dry season.
 

ECONOMIC POTENTIALS

The people here are predominantly farmers, cultivating large quantity of rice and sugar cane, and other cereal crops such as millet, sorghum, etc. These crops are cultivated by the people in large commercial quantities. In fact, it was for this reason that the government established the cereal research institute in Badeggi (NCRI).

Apart from this, Bida is known world wide for its beautiful crafts. Bida is famous for quality woven cloths, mats, embroidery, beads and more importantly the Tsuata-muku brass works. This indeed is a tourist delight. Tourists from all over the world visit this brass company.

Bida town is densely populated and is blessed with good road network, good telecommunication services (MTN, Globacom and Mtel are the leading cellular operators).

Bida town is fast growing into a cosmopolitan city with virtually all it takes to be one.

It is also blessed with quite a number of good schools spanning primary, secondary and tertiary levels.

A Federal Polytechnic, Federal Medical Centre and a School of Nursing are all sited within Bida; a big plus for the development of the area.

The Emirate over the years, has also enjoyed peace. By and large, Bida Emirate is placed first among Emirates in the State. No wonder the Niger State Chairman of Council of Chiefs is the Etsu Nupe.

 

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