A proposal for an indigenous state anthem has been approved by the Bauchi State Executive Council (SEC) in two different tongues of English and Hausa to be made public soon for people’s contributions to correction and modernisation in conformity with the state social content.

The state commissioner of Information and Communication, Hon. Usman Shehu unveiled the proposal while briefing journalists on the outcome of the last state executive council meeting (SEC) presided over by Governor Bala Mohammed at the Government House, Bauchi, describing the anthem as very significant to the state.

He said, “We call it state anthem, because as you might have known, many states in Nigeria have their logo and anthem. We got a proposal from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism which was very much recommended.

“His Excellency, out of his wisdom, said we should open it and ask for competition among patriotic Nigerians, not necessarily from Bauchi State, to send in their proposals which would be deliberated, and one of them would emerge as the anthem of Bauchi State.

“It could be in English and Hausa as well, because in some states, they take the major language as their anthem, and in Bauchi State also, it is open; it could be in Hausa or English.”

Shehu further said that the state anthem and logo will be designed to reflect the state’s values, culture and history, making them a unique representation of Bauchi’s identity.

Hon. Usman Usman explained that the second thing discussed at the council is about the Lame/Burra Games Reserve which the state government said could curb encroachment and insecurity.

According to him, the state government is making frantic efforts to ensure that the games reserve is not turned into a hideout for criminals but a safe place for social interactions and leisure.

He added that the government also directed the Ministry of Agriculture to commence the immediate sale of fertilizers at a subsidised rate of N20,000, to boost agricultural productivity and support farmers struggling with high production costs.

On his part, the state commissioner for Housing and Environment, Hon. Danlami Ahmed, announced that SEC has also approved the commencement of erosion control projects in some communities across three local government areas affected by severe environmental degradation.

The projects are to be executed in Badara of Kirfi local government, Gwaram in Alkaleri local government and Katsalle in Bauchi local government with over N9 million earmarked for the interventions.