The Bauchi State House of Assembly passed the bill during its plenary on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. The bill, which originated as an Executive Bill, now awaits the assent of the State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, to become law. The passage followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the House Committee on Lands and Survey, chaired by Hon. Musa Wakili Nakwada.
The Committee on Lands and Survey consulted relevant government agencies and examined similar institutional arrangements in neighbouring states. According to the Committee, the proposed law aims to strengthen urban and regional planning in Bauchi State by empowering the Board to implement state policies on urban and regional planning. The Board will also implement regional, sub-regional, and urban master plans, as well as development control policies on State lands.
A major provision of the proposed law concerns lands reserved for, or situated within, the right-of-way in urban centres across the state. Such lands will be subject to development control to facilitate land expansion, drainage systems, utility provision, parking spaces, and other uses that promote public safety, convenience, and commercial activities. The Committee recommended greater public participation in the preparation of physical development plans.
Under the proposed framework, relevant government institutions, non-governmental organisations, and members of the public will be invited to submit contributions that could serve as inputs into draft physical development plans. The bill also empowers the Governor, directly or through the Commissioner, to issue general or specific directions to the Board concerning the discharge of its functions.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Musa Wakili Nakwada, explained that effective urban planning creates a framework for the orderly provision of infrastructure and public services. He noted that well-planned urban areas can improve connectivity, support economic activity, attract public and private investment, and enhance access to infrastructure and services. International urban-development experience shows that coordinated urban planning can improve cities’ productivity, inclusiveness, and environmental conditions.
The proposed legislation seeks to provide a stronger institutional and regulatory framework for managing the continued expansion of urban centres, preventing uncoordinated development, and ensuring that land is appropriately planned for roads, drainage, utilities, public spaces, and other community needs. With the passage of the Bill by the House, the legislative process now moves to the Governor for assent.
Once signed into law, the new bill will replace the existing Bauchi State Physical Planning and Development Control Board Law, 2022, and establish the Bauchi State Urban Planning and Development Control Board as the institutional framework for urban planning and development control in the state. The bill's passage marks a significant step towards effective urban planning and development in Bauchi State.
Key points
- The Bauchi State House of Assembly has passed a bill to repeal the 2022 Physical Planning and Development Control Board Law and enact the 2026 Urban Planning and Development Control Board Law.
