2 5 JAN 199S URBAN MIGRANT SETTLEMENTS IN NIGERIA: A HISTORICAL COMPARISON OF THE 'SABON GARIS' IN KANO Alj- ,tJl. 00 AND IBADAN, 1893-1,991. F-\ L 'Bi 1~33 BY ISAAC OLAWALE ALBERT B.A. Hons. History, M.A. African History (Ibadan), A.M.F.F (Helsinki). \~~"" I"\ ~~5,· ,,~:::;.; ;, :~~' ' ·A.':l ..,. .~o·~ -' r• \ctsl / ......~ . ' /. I ;· \il t r, i3 SUBMITTED TO THE INSTITUTE OF AFRICAN STUDΰES, S , r·; \'\__ /.'. UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN, NIGERIA ''-.·" '-.._:_._._,,:';,/ : .: 1 ' IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OFIA THE - REQUIREMENTSLIBRARY FOR \:~ S!! -:··· :·?;';~~ ·.. ·~,/(~:':~):"~·~: -~·~ !~~~·f--.~· · THE AWARDR OF THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHYS IN AFRICAN STUDIES (HISTORY) CODE JANNUARY, 1994. (ii) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The completion of this work is largerly due ta the assistance, cooperation and guidance of certain individuals and institutions. The first is the Institute of African Studies University of Ibadan which granted me a Research Assistantship. I am highly indebted ta the immediate past and incumbent Directors of the Institute: Professors (Mrs.) Bolanle Awe and Cornelius O. Adepegba respectively. The motherly artd finacial assistance of Prof. Awe has been qui te remarkable. This dissertation also benefited immensely from the financial assistance and highly penetrating criticism of Prof. Adepegba. These forced me ta revise certain aspects of the work in such a remarkable manner that improvedIA -its LIBRARY quality. I am equally indebted intellectually taR Dr. Abiodun Adediran who was my superviser. His criticismS of the work at its drafting stage has been quite fertile and constructive. For many years to came, his image as a humble and highly informed scholar will remain indellible inCODE my memory. I also have ta thank his wife having tolerated my frequent interruption of her family' s schedules with my 'selfish' academic problems. To the Council for the Development of social and Economie Research in Africa (CODESRIA) Dakar which selected me as a reéipient of its 1993 Small Grants for Thesis Writing ·, I am highly indebted. The grant facilitated the extensive (iii) fieldwork I carried out at the Sabon Garis in Ibadan and Kano. I must particularly thank the Executive Secretary of the Council, Dr. Thandika Mkandawire for involving me in some pas and on-going research programmes of CODESRIA, I must also thank members of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters, Helsinki for the opportunity given to attend the Second Summer School of the Finnish Folklore Fellows at University of Turku, Finland. I am most particularly grateful to Professors Lauri Honko and Anna Leena Siikala for the invitation extended to me to become an Associate Member of the Folklore Fellows (FF) • All these facilitated my exposure to other scholars and challenged me to greater heights in this dissertation. I am equally grateful to the Institut Francais de RechercheIA - LIBRARYen Afrique (IFRA) Ibadan for funding an aspect of my fieldworkR in Kano. Toits past Director Prof. Bernard Carron andS the present, Prof. Georges Herault, I say big thanks. The administrative Secretary of the IFRA Mrs. De campos and Ms. O.A. Segun its Librarian have been wonderful in their readinessCODE to offer advice when such was needed. I am grateful to the two of them. I also have to thank Messrs. A. otusanya, I. o. oni and Ayegbusi for providing the enabling administrative environment for the successful completion of this work. The comments and suggestions of the following scholars on my entire work have been found very productive: Professors (iv) Omoniyi Adewoye of the History Department University of Ibadan, Ademola Salawu of the University of PortHarcourt, Okwudiba Nnoli of UNN Nsukka, Adebayo Olukoshi of the NIIA Lagos Jubrin and, Ibrahim and Enoch oyedele of ABU Zaria. Others are Drs. Olu Ajakaiye and Fadayomi of NISER Ibadan; Jimi Adesina and Austen Isama of the Department of Sociology, Eghosa osaghae, Jimi Adisa and kunle Amuwo of the Political Science Department, P.A. Oguagha and G.A. Akinola of the History Department University of Ibadan. Dr. Tunde Agbaje - Williams of the Institute of African Studies constantly advised me on every aspect of of this dissertation and gave me free access ta the use of his personal materials. I am highly grateful ta him for Athis - LIBRARYbrotherly assistance. I am equally gratefull ta Drs. DeleI Layiwola, Omibiyi-Obidike and Alex Iwara of the Institute. RMy thanks, as usual ta Messrs G.A. Olamijulo, o.o. Adekola,S S.A. Agbeniyi, Raji Ismaheel Jimoh, Tunde Ogunbosin, Tunde Daudu, Victor Isumonah, Tunde Ayoade, Carew and Dr. S.A. osunwole. My indebtedness are also due ta my friends andCODE colleagues at the History Department Dr. Olaoba, Messrs. Ogbogbo and Osadolor: I am grateful for the pieces of advice offered by each of them towards the successful completion of this work. The editorial comments of Ogbogbo and Osadolor improved the quality of the work. Dr. Layiwola also assisted me ta read through some part of the work. l ·1'/· . 1 l'i' IJ i ,\J 1J ,:(Y) Without the co-operation of my informants at both Ibadan and Kano, this work would not probably have been successully completed. Their names are contained in my bibliography. I however still· have to acknowledge the special contribution of some of them. These include Alhaji Ahmadu zungeru, the incumbent Sarkin Hausawa of Ibadan. He was very helpful and friendly throughout the period of my fieldwork at Sabo. His most outstanding contribution to the research is his summoning of Sabo's Ubangari (Community elders) meeting on the 2nd December, 1992. This facilitated the interviewing of almost all the eminent old men in the settlement. I also have to thank Alhaji Ahmadu Bature the Sarkin Hausawa of Ibadan between 1944 and 1948. When the initial problems were faced at collecting the necessary data from Sabo, Ibadan he and Alhaji Hassan Isiaka omo-Oba were helpful at explaning my missionIA to - theirLIBRARY colleagues. Alhaji Shaibu Dikko, the late SarkinR Hausawa Ibadan who peacefully passed away on 13th Jan. S1992 was another source of inspiration. He granted me series of interviews during his lifetime. May his soul rest in peace. In Kano, I have to thank Alhaja RabiatuCODE Magajia, the Sarkin Mata at the Sabon Gari. She pushed aside some of her social and economic engagements to be able to attend tome during the fieldwork in Kano. Chief Benneth Achebe Anyanetu, the General Secretary of the Ibo Community Kano was also very helpful. I am equally grateful to (vi) Alhaji Salisu Olowo the Sarkin Yorubawa of Kano and his executive members for the little information about the activities of the Yoruba community in Kano that was given to me. My other informants like Messrs Henry Okeke, Raji and Hassan Salami, and Alhaji G.A. Salawu were very helpfuL I thank them all. The smooth collection of my data at the National Archives in Ibadan and Kaduna was facilitated by the Director of the former, Mr. J.B. Daramola. At the completion of the work in Ibadan he gave me a letter of introdution ta his colleagues in Kaduna who showered me with all imaginable heights of co­ operation. Mr Michael Adesina is the most outstanding among those that assisted me at the Kaduna Archives. At the Kashim Ibrahim Library of the ABU Zaria, I was lucky' to have met Mr Richard Jimin Agena who assistedA me - toLIBRARY fish out all my needed publications. I am grateful taI him. Some of the days I spent at Kaduna were with Mr. TunjiR Adeniyi. I am highly indebted ta him and his wife for theirS generous support. I am grateful to all my friends in the Coterie Club of Nigeria for their · assistance and support. cot. Bayo Oyelade was particularly helpful with hisCODE technical advice on town planning just as Cots Ayo Aluko and Tunde 'Labiyi were constantly monitoring my progress on the dissertation at its drafting stage. For their finacial and prayerful assistance, I am thankful to Deacon and Deaconness Aluko, Mr. and Mrs. Komolafe, Mr. and Mrs. Oyelude, Mr. and Mrs. Adekunle, . (vii) Mr. and Mrs. oj eabulu, Mr. and Mrs. Biodun Sowemimo, Mr. and Mrs. Onatade, Mr. and Mrs. Dayo Ajayi, Mr. and Mrs. Olaifa, Mr. and Mrs. Taiwo, Mr. and Mrs. ogunkoya, Messrs John Adeyemo, Ranti Esan, D.B. Oniyide, Muyiwa Odeyemi, Tunji Albert, Mr. and Mrs. Olatunde, Mr. Funso Olatunde, Miss Bukola Olatunde, Mrs. Florence Opebiyi Mr. and Mrs. 'Tunde Albert Ogunkeye. Last but not the least, I am grateful to my loving wife 'Remi and Daniel ourson. They had to forgo many things to ensure that sufficient time and money was available for the successful completion of this work. IA - LIBRARY R S CODE (viii) DEDICATION In deep appreciation of His continuous support and protection, this work is dedicated to God Almighty. unto HIM be the Glory for the great things HE has done. IA - LIBRARY R S CODE (ix) CERTIFICATION I certify that this work was carried out by Isaac Olawale ALBERT (Matriculation Number 34910) under my Supervision at the Institute of· African studies, Univerisy of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. ---~=:::::::,,-- -~- Dr. Abiodun Adebayo Adediran B.A., Ph.D. (Ife) Reader Department of History Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife.IA - LIBRARY R S CODE (x) TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT i DEDICATION vii CERTIFICATION ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ix LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. X ABBREVIATIONS xiii ABSTRACT xiv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 (i) Theoretical Background 1 (ii) statement of the Problem 11 (iii) Literature Review 12 Migration and Urbanization in Nigeria 12 Knowledge on the Sabon Gari 21 (iv) Rationale of the study 25 (v) Scope and Limitation of the study 28 (vi) Research Methodology 34 CHAPTER TWO: THE ANTECEDENTS OF THE SABON GARI SETTLEMENTS SYSTEM IN KANO AND IBADAN 35 (i) The Ibadan Experience 37 (ii) The Kano Situation 44 CHAPTER THREE: THE ESTABLISHMENTA -OF LIBRARY THE SABON GARIS 54 (i) Sabon Gari, Kano I 54 ( ii) sabon Gari, IbadanR 78 CHAPTER FOUR: THE PHYSICALS GROWTH OF THE SETTLEMENTS 95 (i) Sabon Gari, Kano 95 (ii) Sabo, Ibadan 124 CHAPTER FIVE: ORGANIZATION OF THE SABON GARI IMMIGRANTS AT KANO AND IBADAN 144 (i) socio-Political Organization.