Bauchi (earlier Yakoba) is a city in northeast Nigeria, the capital of Bauchi State, of the Bauchi Local Government Area within that State, and of the traditional Bauchi Emirate. It is located on the northern edge of the Jos Plateau, at an elevation of 616 m. The Local Government Area covers an area of 3,687 km2 and had a population of 493,810 at the time of the 2006

Bauchi City is among the has twenty Local Government Areas of Bauchi state:

Bauchi, Tafawa Balewa, Dass, Toro, Bogoro, Ningi, Warji, Ganjuwa, Kirfi, Alkaleri, Darazo, Misau, Giade, Shira, Jamaare, Katagum, Itas/Gadau, Zaki, Gamawa and Damban

History
The city was founded by Yaqub ibn Dadi, the only non-Fulani flag-bearer of the Sokoto Empire. The name was derived from a hunter called Baushe, who advised Yaqub to build his city west of the Warinje mountain. In return Yaqub promised to name his city after the hunter.

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa is buried in the city, while the Yankari National Park is 110 km from the state capital. The city lies on the Port Harcourt – Maiduguri railway line. The Bauchi State Library Board was established in 1976.

In July 2009, attacks in Bauchi by Boko Haram following the arrest of some of its members resulted in over 50 people killed and over 100 arrested.

After the 2014 Chibok kidnapping, over 200 students were transferred to the Federal Government Girls College, Bauchi. The majority were from Federal Government Girls’ College, Potiskum, Yobe State.

Transport
Bauchi was originally served by a narrow gauge 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) light railway, but this was later converted to the normal gauge of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in).

Up until August, 2014, Bauchi was served by Bauchi Airport, located in-town. Scheduled airline service was then transferred to the newly constructed Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, 23 kilometres (14 mi) north of Bauchi, near the village of Durum.

Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bauchi has a tropical savanna climate, abbreviated “Aw” on climate maps.

Climate data for Bauchi
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 38.3
(100.9) 39.4
(102.9) 39.4
(102.9) 40.6
(105.1) 39.4
(102.9) 37.8
(100.0) 33.3
(91.9) 32.2
(90.0) 33.9
(93.0) 35.6
(96.1) 36.1
(97.0) 36.7
(98.1) 40.6
(105.1)
Average high °C (°F) 31.6
(88.9) 33.9
(93.0) 36.4
(97.5) 36.6
(97.9) 34.6
(94.3) 31.6
(88.9) 29.2
(84.6) 28.6
(83.5) 29.7
(85.5) 32.2
(90.0) 33.0
(91.4) 31.4
(88.5) 32.4
(90.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 22.4
(72.3) 24.6
(76.3) 28.1
(82.6) 30.0
(86.0) 28.4
(83.1) 26.3
(79.3) 24.6
(76.3) 24.3
(75.7) 24.7
(76.5) 25.5
(77.9) 24.1
(75.4) 22.1
(71.8) 25.4
(77.7)
Average low °C (°F) 13.1
(55.6) 15.3
(59.5) 19.8
(67.6) 22.3
(72.1) 22.2
(72.0) 20.9
(69.6) 20.1
(68.2) 19.9
(67.8) 19.7
(67.5) 18.8
(65.8) 15.2
(59.4) 12.8
(55.0) 18.3
(64.9)
Record low °C (°F) 7.2
(45.0) 8.9
(48.0) 11.7
(53.1) 16.1
(61.0) 16.7
(62.1) 16.7
(62.1) 17.2
(63.0) 17.2
(63.0) 16.1
(61.0) 12.2
(54.0) 9.4
(48.9) 6.1
(43.0) 6.1
(43.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 0.5
(0.02) 0.5
(0.02) 5.0
(0.20) 36.0
(1.42) 94.0
(3.70) 147.0
(5.79) 254.0
(10.00) 340.0
(13.39) 183.0
(7.20) 36.0
(1.42) 1.0
(0.04) 0.0
(0.0) 1,095
(43.11)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.3 mm) 0 0 1 3 9 12 17 21 15 4 0 0 82
Average relative humidity (%) (at 7:00 LST) 42 35 40 63 79 86 92 94 93 88 65 51 69
Mean monthly sunshine hours 275.9 268.4 272.8 225.0 251.1 228.0 186.0 155.0 216.0 282.1 300.0 306.9 2,967.2
Mean daily sunshine hours 8.9 9.5 8.8 7.5 8.1 7.6 6.0 5.0 7.2 9.1 10.0 9.9 8.1
Source: Deutscher Wetterdienst
Languages

Ceremonial ruler of Bauchi under a red-white parasol on a white horse, 1970–1973.

Ceremonial ruler of Bauchi under a red-white parasol on a white horse, 1970–1973.

Rich horsemen at the Sallah festivities in Bauchi, 1970–1973.
Fulani
Gera
Jarawa
Gere
Sayawa (Zaar)
Kir-Balar language, Kir Bengbet and Kir Bajang’le villages
Zumbun language, Darazo LGA, Jimbim settlement
Karai-Karai
Boyawa (Ayah) Bogoro LGA.
Notable people
John Egbunu (born 1994), Nigerian-born American basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
See also
Bauchi Light Railway
Railway stations in Nigeria
Bauchi State Festival of Arts and Culture