Mohammed Kaliel
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Bello Kaliel was the first Governor of Bauchi State
, Nigeria
after it was formed in 3 February 1976 when North-Eastern State
was divided into Bauchi, Borno
, and Gongola
states, during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo. He held office until July 1978.
From 1972-1974, he was an instructor at the Nigerian Defence Academy.
In February 1976, Mohammed Kaliel was appointed governor of Bauchi State by the head of state, General Murtala Muhammed, shortly before he was killed in an abortive coup attempt. Taking office in March 1976, he brought a team of experienced civil servants from Maiduguri
to establish the new state's administration. He found a state with no electricity and limited water supply from boreholes, and made improving this basic infrastructure his first priority.
Kaliel was Commandant at the Nigerian Resettlement Center, Lagos from 1978-1980, Director of Logistics and Defence (1980-1981) and Commandant, Brigade of Guards, Lagos
(1981-1984).
In December 1983, while Kaliel was on leave from the Brigade of Guards, a coup resulted in Major-General Muhammadu Buhari
becoming head of state.
After the restoration of democracy in May 1999, he was appointed federal minister of Water Resources between 1999 and 2001.
In January 2001 he met the Zamfara State
Governor, Ahmed Sani Yerima, who told him that Gusau Dam could dry up soon, and asked the Federal Government to transfer water from the Bakolori Dam
to the state capital, Gusau
. Kaliel said the Federal Government was committed to provide quality water to all Nigerians, would soon provide assistance to the states, with priority given to Gusau.
He was replaced in a cabinet shuffle on 13 June 2001.
In May 2005, he was appointed to the board of All States Trust Bank Plc.
Bauchi State
Bauchi State is a State in northern Nigeria. Its capital is the city of Bauchi. The state was formed in 1976 when the former North-Eastern State was broken up...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
after it was formed in 3 February 1976 when North-Eastern State
North-Eastern State
North-Eastern State is a former administrative division of Nigeria. It was created on 27 May 1967 from parts of the Northern Region. It's capital was the city of Maiduguri.On 3 February 1976 it was divided into three states - Bauchi, Borno, and Gongola...
was divided into Bauchi, Borno
Borno State
Borno State is a state in north-eastern Nigeria. Its capital is Maiduguri. The state was formed in 1976 from the split of the North-Eastern State...
, and Gongola
Gongola State
Gongola State is a former administrative division of Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from Adamawa and Sardauna Provinces of North-Eastern State, together with the Wukari Division of the then Benue-Plateau State; it existed until 27 August 1991, when it was divided into two states -...
states, during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo. He held office until July 1978.
Army career
Mohammed Bello Kaliel joined the army in 1967.From 1972-1974, he was an instructor at the Nigerian Defence Academy.
In February 1976, Mohammed Kaliel was appointed governor of Bauchi State by the head of state, General Murtala Muhammed, shortly before he was killed in an abortive coup attempt. Taking office in March 1976, he brought a team of experienced civil servants from Maiduguri
Maiduguri
Maiduguri, also fondly called Yerwa by its locals, is the capital and the largest city of Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria. The city sits along the seasonal Ngadda River which disappears into the Firki swamps in the areas around Lake Chad...
to establish the new state's administration. He found a state with no electricity and limited water supply from boreholes, and made improving this basic infrastructure his first priority.
Kaliel was Commandant at the Nigerian Resettlement Center, Lagos from 1978-1980, Director of Logistics and Defence (1980-1981) and Commandant, Brigade of Guards, Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
(1981-1984).
In December 1983, while Kaliel was on leave from the Brigade of Guards, a coup resulted in Major-General Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari was a military ruler of Nigeria and an unsuccessful candidate for president in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections...
becoming head of state.
Later career
Mohammed Bello Kaliel retired shortly after the coup, in 1984.After the restoration of democracy in May 1999, he was appointed federal minister of Water Resources between 1999 and 2001.
In January 2001 he met the Zamfara State
Zamfara State
Zamfara State is a state in northwestern Nigeria. Its capital is Gusau and its Governor is Abdul'aziz Abubakar Yari, a member of the All Nigeria Peoples Party . Until 1996 the area was part of Sokoto State....
Governor, Ahmed Sani Yerima, who told him that Gusau Dam could dry up soon, and asked the Federal Government to transfer water from the Bakolori Dam
Bakolori Dam
The Bakolori Dam is in Sokoto State in the Northwest of Nigeria, completed in 1978 and its reservoir filled by 1981. It is a major reservoir on the Sokoto River, a tributary of the Rima River, which in turn feeds the Niger River...
to the state capital, Gusau
Gusau
Gusau is a city and Local Government Area located in northwestern Nigeria. It is the capital of Zamfara State.The LGA has an area of 3,364 km² and a population of 383,162 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 880.-Geography:...
. Kaliel said the Federal Government was committed to provide quality water to all Nigerians, would soon provide assistance to the states, with priority given to Gusau.
He was replaced in a cabinet shuffle on 13 June 2001.
In May 2005, he was appointed to the board of All States Trust Bank Plc.