THE HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF B.A.C

January 5th 1976, saw the promulgation of Decree No. 6 giving the new Federal Capital Territory a legal backing. The decree also positioned a Federal Capital Development Authority (FDA) to plan, design and develop the Territory. For effective management and development of the Federal

Capital Territory (FCT), seven development areas namely: Abaji, Bwari,

Karshi, Kuje, Kwali, Rubochi and Yaba were created in 1981.

These Development Areas soon metamorphosed into four Area Councils

as follows:

1. Abaji Area Council
2. Abuja Municipal Area Council
3. Gwagwalada Area Council
4. Kuje Area Council

By this arrangement, Bwari as a development Area then, fell under the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and was thus, administered through the Administrative Secretaries, until it became a full-fledged Council. It is worth mentioning that, the Development Area had 5 Administrative Secretaries that administered it from 1980 to 1996.

These Secretaries were directly responsible to the then Deputy Mayor/Chairman of AMAC as the case may be.

The following were the Administrative Secretaries that piloted the

affairs of the Development Area since inception until 1996 when it gained its autonomy as an Area Council.

PAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SECRETARIES B.A.C

THE CREATION OF THE COUNCIL.

B.A.C. was created on 1* October, 1996 on the creation of more states and Local Governments by the Late Gen. Sani Abacha. Also created alongside, was the Kwali Area Council, which brought to six the number of Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The council has 10 Wards and 14 Districts.

Location: Bwari Area Council is located North East of FCT. A vast area with a scenic landscape and its striking features makes the Council unique. It shares boundaries with Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, Kagarko Local Government of Kaduna State, Abuja Municipal Area Council (FCT), Gwagwalada Area Council (FCT) and Nasarawa State.

Bwari Area Council has good dual carriage road network. From the city centre, one could access the Council Secretariat in 30 minutes.

THE COLOSSUS OF BWARI AREA COUNCIL

Since water is synonymous with life, the existence of FCT can be said to lie on Bwari Area Council where the entire Territory derives its water supply from the Lower Usman Dam which is situated in the Council. Coupled with this, the Area Council also stands out as the food basket of FCT, home of tourism and is again, designed as educational zone by the Federal Government, thus, making it a citadel of learning. In fact, the following institutions are being housed by the Council:

• Headquarter of JAMB, Bwari
• Headquarter of the School of Legal Studies (Nigerian Law School, Bwari)
• Civil Service Staff College at Dutse Alhaji
• Dorben Polytechnic, Bwari Abuja
• NYSC Orientation Camp, Kubwa Abuja
• Headquarter of Child Care Trust, Bwari
• Federal Government Girls’ College, Bwari
• A newly layed Foundation for Catholic University in Gaba, Bwari.

PAST AND PRESENT CHIEF EXECUTIVES

THE CULTURE OF THE PEOPLE OF BWARI AREA COUNCIL.

The culture of the people of Bwari Area Council is expressed in various languages, foods, festivals etc. The dominant indigenous tribe in the Area

Council is the Gbagyi which is followed by the Koro ethnic group. Other settler tribes in the council includes the Hausa/Fulani, Igbo, Yoruba, gala among other Nigerians. The people of Bwari believe in God, but like

many parts of the world have different ways of worshiping Him.

God is known by diffe names in different parts of the Area Council, The Gbagyi’s call him SHEKWO, Hausas call him UBANGIJI, while the Igbos and Yorubas call Him Chineke and OLORUN respectively.

The traditionalist on the other hand worship different gods, ancestors and believe in universal laws. It is therefore not strange to find churches, mosques and shrines in various parts of the council

In addition, Bwari Area Council is blessed with good land and favourable

weather that encourages the production of food crops such yams, maize, guinea corn, groundnuts, soyabeans, rice, melon, mangoes, millet and

The weather is also conducive for the rearing of cattles, sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens and fishes.

Infact great opportunities abound for agro-allied industries in the Council.

Bwari Area Council has two graded Chiefs of 2nd and 3rd class status. They are addressed as Sarkin Bwari and ESU Bwari respectively.

The council has 14 districts and all the village & hamlet heads are answerable to the districts heads under whose jurisdiction they fall.

The revenue base of Bwari Area Council is mostly derived from farming, buying & selling as well as small scale businesses.

Political Platform is vibrant with various political parties actively involved in the political runnings of the area council.

The council has 10 Political Wards each governed by an Elected Councillor.

Bwari Area Council and AMAC make up the

F.C.T./AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency.

RECREATION, RELAXATION, SIGHTSEEING AND MORE.

Bwari Area Council has tourist attractions and recreational facilities.

Like Ushafa Pottery and Ceramics Industry which has attracted

international figures including the former President of the United State of America, Mr Bill Clinton the former United States Vice President (Mr Don Quail the UN Secretary General Mr Ban kin-moon etc.

• The Ushafa Cave
• Ushafa Ancient House
• Goyipe Hill about 100 meters above sea level where a family of three were said to have turned into different sizes of stones
• The Aideghelayi’s Cave
• Dutse Makaranta. where a Chief herbalist mysterically turned into a stone as his belongings such as cutlass and slippers are still in the banana plantation.
• Bwari Cave
• The Lower Usman Dam
• Elim suit hotel and others

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

The landmark beckons on investors both local and international to

explore on the agricultural and tourism opportunities and come to invest in the council.

BWARI AREA COUNCIL DAIRY

CREATED: 1st October, 1996

SECRETARIAT: Behind Jamb Office

DISTRICTS: 14

OCCUPATION: farming

LIVESTOCK: Cattle, Sheep

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: Ushafa Pottery Centre, Lower Usman Dam, Bwari Pottery.