The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has said that the state would be among the top 10 economies in Nigeria by 2033, and that it aspires to lead the North East sub-region over the next eight years.

Mohammed unveiled the long-term ambition on Tuesday in a statewide broadcast to mark the 50th anniversary of the state’s creation, adding that the projection was anchored in a 10-year development plan.

The governor acknowledged that long-term planning ensures continuity, policy consistency, and predictable growth, even during government changes. He said that the state government, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), had extended its 2021-2025 plan into a 10-year development plan that goes beyond the current administration and extends beyond the end date of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mohammed said that: “The Bauchi State Development Plan 2033, which is the 10-year plan, aims to build upon the State Medium Term Plan 2025 by expanding its scope, particularly focusing on security and social inclusion. The plan prioritises issues affecting women, young people, children, and vulnerable populations in Bauchi.

“It is essential to note that this 10-year plan does not duplicate existing plans but rather complements them to achieve the state’s desired vision, considering governance, legislative, social, and policy reforms that strengthen its capacity to fulfil the vision.

“The Bauchi State Development Plan 2023-2033 is predicated on four pillars that include: • Coherent Policy Thrust for the Plan • Realistic Macroeconomic Framework. • Prioritised and Sequenced list of Programmes and Projects to drive annual budgets. • Robust Implementation and Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to Ensure the Plan is efficiently and effectively implemented.”

Mohammed said: “In terms of vision, by the year 2033 Bauchi State seeks to become the leading economy in the North-East region and one of the top 10 most economically and socially developed states in the country. This vision is intended to build a better future for the people of the state by creating a secure, prosperous and inclusive society within the next 10 years and beyond.”

According to him, the state intends to create boundless opportunities for growth and development in Bauchi through the active collaboration among developed human capital, efficient state governance, the private sector and development partners.

He said that the state aims to use its vast human, natural and man-made resources to create wealth and ensure the well-being of the people through an all-inclusive structural transformation of the economy, using a consultative and participatory process to achieve a better life for all Bauchi citizens.

“The focus of the Plan is such that the sectors are prioritised and grouped within the 12-clusters of our Administration’s economic blueprint: Agriculture and Food Security, Education, Health, Infrastructure, Security of Lives and Property, Environment, Tourism, Information and Communications Technology, Housing, Private Sector, Regional Collaboration, and General Administration,” he said.