Urbanization
constitutes a major phenomenon of developing societies or countries such as Nigeria (Mabogunje
1968). In some countries the process is not new, since it can be traced to the last millennium while in
others the process becomes phenomenal as from the second world war in 1945
(Breese, 166). In Nigeria the growth of towns into urban centers can be traced
to the last millennium, urban rapid contact with the outside world resulting
from international commerce led to the development of such large settlement
such as Kano and Zaria (Onokerhoraye and Omuta,186) urbanization was also
greatest among those groups which had development large centralized and complex
political system (Salau, 1979) prominent among these groups were the Fulani,
Hausa and Kanuri (Bornu) in the Northern part and the Bini and Yoruba in the Southern part of the country.
constitutes a major phenomenon of developing societies or countries such as Nigeria (Mabogunje
1968). In some countries the process is not new, since it can be traced to the last millennium while in
others the process becomes phenomenal as from the second world war in 1945
(Breese, 166). In Nigeria the growth of towns into urban centers can be traced
to the last millennium, urban rapid contact with the outside world resulting
from international commerce led to the development of such large settlement
such as Kano and Zaria (Onokerhoraye and Omuta,186) urbanization was also
greatest among those groups which had development large centralized and complex
political system (Salau, 1979) prominent among these groups were the Fulani,
Hausa and Kanuri (Bornu) in the Northern part and the Bini and Yoruba in the Southern part of the country.
However,
an urban hierarchy evolved in the North than in the South of Nigeria, before
British penetration (Salau,1979). Nigeria is the most urbanized country in the
Tropical African (Breese, 1966). Other developing countries such as Asia have
also been experiencing rapid rates of urban transformation, especially since
1945 Bob Walter (1976:97) states the over-urbanization, which refers to an ever
expanding rate of urbanization is a characteristics feature of many developing
countries. it is now an incontrovertible fact that the rate of growth of
urbanization is higher in the developed ones. Although the figure of population
of those of that live in the cities in higher in the developed countries
(Afolabi Ojo 1978:21) it has been concluded that continuing rate of
urbanization in third world is inevitable.
an urban hierarchy evolved in the North than in the South of Nigeria, before
British penetration (Salau,1979). Nigeria is the most urbanized country in the
Tropical African (Breese, 1966). Other developing countries such as Asia have
also been experiencing rapid rates of urban transformation, especially since
1945 Bob Walter (1976:97) states the over-urbanization, which refers to an ever
expanding rate of urbanization is a characteristics feature of many developing
countries. it is now an incontrovertible fact that the rate of growth of
urbanization is higher in the developed ones. Although the figure of population
of those of that live in the cities in higher in the developed countries
(Afolabi Ojo 1978:21) it has been concluded that continuing rate of
urbanization in third world is inevitable.
The
inevitability for the continuing rate of urbanization in the third world in the future cannot be separated from high
population explosion, the growth of cities or more urban centers which maintained
a state of steady and static equilibrium with their hinterland in pre-colonial
days have since been transformed in many ways to make them assume the form of
rejuvenated cities along with two types of cities which have emerged since
colonial times namely the colonial city and the rejuvenated traditional city
(Mabogunje 1968). the rejuvenated traditional and the colonial cities have
attracted the inhabitants of their peripheries.
inevitability for the continuing rate of urbanization in the third world in the future cannot be separated from high
population explosion, the growth of cities or more urban centers which maintained
a state of steady and static equilibrium with their hinterland in pre-colonial
days have since been transformed in many ways to make them assume the form of
rejuvenated cities along with two types of cities which have emerged since
colonial times namely the colonial city and the rejuvenated traditional city
(Mabogunje 1968). the rejuvenated traditional and the colonial cities have
attracted the inhabitants of their peripheries.
Industrialization
have also been a cause of urbanization in developing countries urbanization and
industrialization have been in inseparable partners in the process of
urbanization of most third world country, a process that has been poising a lot
of problems for their countries. The location of industrial project and
governmental institution is of critical importance to urban growth and
development. Most private industrial establishment choose the administrative
center as locations due to the presence of governmental institutions and a
highly development infrastructure (Salau 1979; 202).
have also been a cause of urbanization in developing countries urbanization and
industrialization have been in inseparable partners in the process of
urbanization of most third world country, a process that has been poising a lot
of problems for their countries. The location of industrial project and
governmental institution is of critical importance to urban growth and
development. Most private industrial establishment choose the administrative
center as locations due to the presence of governmental institutions and a
highly development infrastructure (Salau 1979; 202).
According
to schstzl (1973) the trend toward increasing governmental interference in
private enterprises coupled with the efficient administration and communication
characteristics of developing nations seemed to favour a permanent directed
contract with the public administration.
to schstzl (1973) the trend toward increasing governmental interference in
private enterprises coupled with the efficient administration and communication
characteristics of developing nations seemed to favour a permanent directed
contract with the public administration.
Lack of
planning of Urban cities and the lack of attempts to diversify the economy are
also characteristics of urbanization in developing countries, a situation that had created social problems
that are presently yearning for solutions. No urban renewal policy was
introduced into Nigeria until the 1950’s while attempt at town planning have
not clearly formulated and implemented since 1945, an urban oriented policy was
introduced in Nigeria in 1946 with the establishment of the Town Planning
Authority by the Nigeria town and country planning ordinance (No 4 of 1964)
which was to provide for the re-planning, improvement and development of
different parts of the country by means of planning schemes (Mobogunje, 1978
p.11)
planning of Urban cities and the lack of attempts to diversify the economy are
also characteristics of urbanization in developing countries, a situation that had created social problems
that are presently yearning for solutions. No urban renewal policy was
introduced into Nigeria until the 1950’s while attempt at town planning have
not clearly formulated and implemented since 1945, an urban oriented policy was
introduced in Nigeria in 1946 with the establishment of the Town Planning
Authority by the Nigeria town and country planning ordinance (No 4 of 1964)
which was to provide for the re-planning, improvement and development of
different parts of the country by means of planning schemes (Mobogunje, 1978
p.11)
However,
the shortcoming of the ordinance of 1946 have constituted one of the greatest
drawbacks to national urban development in Nigeria. A major drawback rising
from the ordinance has been the
restriction of the activities of a planning authority simply to estate
development and building control (Mabogunje, 1965) this restriction has not
been conductive to an effective and efficient planning of the Burgeoning cities in
Nigeria since the colonial period with regard to diversification of the economy,
urbanization in developing societies such as in African has not been
accompanied by attempt to alter the
urban/rural economic relations with the overall
aim of diversifying the economic base. According to Magubane (1979:31) there
were few ties between one sector of the economy and another so that in any
single colony there could be no beneficial interaction between the various
sectors let alone organic development. According to him foreign investment is
incapable of solving Africa’s under-development and skewed urbanization.
the shortcoming of the ordinance of 1946 have constituted one of the greatest
drawbacks to national urban development in Nigeria. A major drawback rising
from the ordinance has been the
restriction of the activities of a planning authority simply to estate
development and building control (Mabogunje, 1965) this restriction has not
been conductive to an effective and efficient planning of the Burgeoning cities in
Nigeria since the colonial period with regard to diversification of the economy,
urbanization in developing societies such as in African has not been
accompanied by attempt to alter the
urban/rural economic relations with the overall
aim of diversifying the economic base. According to Magubane (1979:31) there
were few ties between one sector of the economy and another so that in any
single colony there could be no beneficial interaction between the various
sectors let alone organic development. According to him foreign investment is
incapable of solving Africa’s under-development and skewed urbanization.
It should
be quite obvious by now that intensely over-crowded cities in African are a
direct result of anarchic and unplanned economic development and it internal
consequence. The reason for this pattern of growth have attributed to
colonialism and the attendant dominant capitalist mode of production. Colonialism
resulted in what castells refers to as dependent urbanism. According to him
dependent urbanism arsis as in situation while the urban form exists as a
channel for the extraction of qualities of surplus from a rural and resources
hinterland for the purpose of shipment to the major metropolitan centers of
colonial trade and administration, the African cities for example have draw in
the surplus people and the uprooted labourers of the rural areas. This is a long
term and continuing process intensified by rapid rises in general population
(Salau, 1979),
be quite obvious by now that intensely over-crowded cities in African are a
direct result of anarchic and unplanned economic development and it internal
consequence. The reason for this pattern of growth have attributed to
colonialism and the attendant dominant capitalist mode of production. Colonialism
resulted in what castells refers to as dependent urbanism. According to him
dependent urbanism arsis as in situation while the urban form exists as a
channel for the extraction of qualities of surplus from a rural and resources
hinterland for the purpose of shipment to the major metropolitan centers of
colonial trade and administration, the African cities for example have draw in
the surplus people and the uprooted labourers of the rural areas. This is a long
term and continuing process intensified by rapid rises in general population
(Salau, 1979),
