Article Citation: Ibrahim, A. & Sani, A-U. (2025). Urbanization and developmental challenges in Birnin Kebbi, 1991-2019. Middle East Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 5(5): 167-176. https://doi.org/10.36348/merjhss.2025.v05i05.004
URBANIZATION AND
DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES IN BIRNIN KEBBI, 1991-2019
By
Ahmed
Ibrahim
Department
of History and International Studies
Federal
University Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria
ahmedibrahim@fugusau.edu.ng
+2348033455017
And
Abu-Ubaida
Sani
Department
of Languages and Cultures,
Federal
University Gusau, Zamfara, Nigeria
Email: abuubaidasani5@gmail.com | abu-ubaidallah@fugusau.edu.ng
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6447-4334 | WhatsApp: +2348133529736
Abstract
This paper examines the processes, dynamics, and
challenges of urbanization and development in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, from
1991 to 2019. It explores how successive military and civilian administrations
contributed to the transformation of Birnin Kebbi from a local government
headquarters into a full-fledged state capital with growing economic, social,
and infrastructural importance. Using both primary and secondary sources,
including oral interviews, government records, and official documents, the study
analyzes developmental initiatives such as the provision of housing, roads,
electricity, water supply, markets, and public institutions that enhanced the
city’s urban profile. Despite these achievements, the study identifies
persistent challenges including inadequate infrastructure, poor urban planning,
population pressure, waste management problems, unemployment, and environmental
degradation. The paper concludes that while government interventions
significantly accelerated urban growth, issues of continuity, corruption, and
policy implementation hindered sustainable urban development in Birnin Kebbi.
Keywords: Urbanization,
Development, Governance, Infrastructure, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria
Introduction
The
overriding concern of this paper is an investigation of “Urbanization and
Developmental Challenges in Birnin Kebbi Town, 1991–2019,” specifically
focusing on the plethora of contributions made by each distinct (military and
civil) administration. For better comprehension, these landmark periods are
compartmentalized into two epochal trajectories, notably the military and
civilian administrations. The precision of the study lies in the fact that no
serious efforts have been made toward a nuanced understanding of their
contributions to the phenomenon under investigation. However, the creation of
Kebbi State in 1991 added another face value and dimension to the annals of the
political and urban transformational history of Birnin Kebbi town up to 2019.
By this status, the position of Birnin Kebbi town has been enhanced
politically, socially, and economically, as it joined the ranks of other
important urban centres in Nigeria.
There
are quite a number of public institutions established during the period under
review. These include educational, health, and other urban development projects
carried out by the Kebbi State Government. The developmental expansion of the
town, in terms of population growth and economic activities, has reached a
remarkable level of progression as a result of flexible government policies
meant to improve the standard of living of the people in the study area. In
fact, the creation of Kebbi State in 1991 attracted a large number of people
from all parts of the country and beyond, mainly because of the employment
opportunities provided by the government, commercial institutions, as well as
the receptive nature of the people.
By
and large, Birnin Kebbi town has been considerably transformed into a vibrant
commercial and urban centre with an effective administrative apparatus, its
strategic location to two neighbouring states, and the receptive and
accommodative nature of the host community. It could be reiterated that from
the creation of Kebbi State in 1991 up to 2019, which are the starting and
terminating periods of the study, eight governors had administered the state,
specifically, four (4) military administrators and four (4) civilian governors.
It is apposite to note that these governors created strong, indelible marks in
the phase of urbanization and development, elicited through good governance.
For better clarity, Table 1.1 below discernibly illustrates the names and periods
of military and civil administrations in Kebbi State, ranging from 1991 to
2019.
Table 1.1: List of Governors of Kebbi State, 1991-2019
|
S/N |
Names |
Period
|
Form
of government |
|
1 |
Col. Patrick
N. Aziza |
1991-1992 |
Military |
|
2 |
Alhaji
Abubakar Musa |
1992-1993 |
Civilian |
|
3 |
Col. Salihu
Tunde Bello |
1993-1996 |
Military |
|
4 |
Col. John Paul
Ubah |
1996-1998 |
Military |
|
5 |
Col. Sama’ila
Bature Chamah, |
1998-1999 |
Military |
|
6 |
Alhaji Mohammad Adamu Aliero, |
1999-2007 |
Civilian |
|
7 |
Alhaji Saidu
Usman Nasamu Dakingari |
2007-2015 |
Civilian |
|
8 |
Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, |
2015-2019 |
Civilian |
Source: Field Work
It is worthy of note that the effectiveness of administrative
institutions and the soundness of politics are acknowledged as catalysts for
the development of Birnin Kebbi town since it was made a state capital. In
addition, democratic governance created the enabling environment through which
policy choices are subjected to the control of free and responsible citizens
capable of holding the government and state institutions accountable for their
implementation. It is based on the above analysis that the paper deems it
necessary to interrogate urbanism and good governance in Birnin Kebbi town. The
paper is divided into seven (7) different segments. Apart from the
introduction, which sets out the general overview, it explores the conceptual
exposition consisting of urbanization and development. It also discusses urban
development in Birnin Kebbi town from 1991 to 2019, the government’s efforts in
the provision of offices and residential accommodation as well as its
challenges, and finally, the conclusion of the paper.
Conceptual Exposition:
Urbanization and Development
The
understanding of the exposition of urbanism in its conceptual discourse has
defied a number of analyses, as there is no specific or generally accepted
meaning. Though it is appropriately more described that its conceptual analysis
has been given by a number of scholars. Therefore, urbanism is about what happens inside cities, the form and
function of cities, and how cities relate to rural communities.[1]
It often refers to the study of how inhabitants of urban or urbanising areas
interact with the social and built environments of cities.[2]
In other words, urbanism is a mode of inquiry, a way of analysing and
understanding cities. Again, urbanism has the patterns of behaviour,
relationships, and modes of thinking that characterize urban dwellers.[3]
Planetary urbanism, for its part, concentrates on an attempt to reformulate the
relationship between ‘concentrated’ and ‘extended’ forms of human settlement,
land use, and spatial development by assimilating both of them into a
theoretical urban landscape that is nothing less than global.[4]
In this situation, urbanism deals with the degree of robust interaction between
the urban and rural communities toward the advancement of social and economic
relations.
The
term ‘development’ has elicited a number of discussions, particularly in
arriving at a cogent, definitive interpretation and meanings. However,
development has many-sided phases, seeing it as advancement in physical
structure, growth in human development, especially per capita income, and the
distinction from what is in extant with the past accretion in human society.
Conceptually, ‘development’ is increasingly understood as a general improvement
of the ‘quality of life’ for the majority of the population, and as such, it
includes Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, but also the effective fulfillment
of human rights, including civic and political rights.[5]
Again, development would also be more sustainable by strengthening domestic
accountability through the consolidation of democratic institutions and
processes of electing the political leaders into power.
Understanding the Nexus
between Urbanization and Development
Urbanization
and development are two indispensable phenomena that each defines the other in
the evaluation of growth and advancement of any given society. It is very
complex and subtle to achieve development without implementing meaningful
projects within a particular realm. Therefore, urbanization, which appears as
the growth of cities and societies, has to be measured by the value of the
increasing impact recorded through developmental inputs. In the context of this
study, urbanization cannot be separated from development, as the increasing
rate of urbanization determines the degree and propensity of development
accrued in a particular socio-economic and political milieu.[6]
For instance, the provision of social infrastructural development projects that
proportionally meet or exceed the needs of citizens could be attributed to
development. Invariably, when such provisions fail to satisfy these needs,
underdevelopment becomes evident in the area. In addition, urbanization and
development work hand in hand, as the achievement of the former is determined
by the latter in terms of transformational changes over a given period within a
society.
Urban Development in
Birnin Kebbi Town, 1991-2019
The stride by the Federal Government of Nigeria to address the
minority question of marginalization in the country, as exhibited by other
major ethnic groups, necessitated the need for the creation of more states to
alleviate the fears of the minority groups. These conundrums resulted in the
birth of a balance of equilibrium through which a number of states were created
in 1991, of which Kebbi State was a component part. Following the creation of
Kebbi State on 27th August 1991 by the Federal Military Government of Nigeria,
Birnin Kebbi town remained one of the historic towns in Kasar Kabi, which thus
became its headquarters in the same year.[7] For its administration, Colonel Patrick Newton Aziza was sworn in
as the administrator of the newly created state (Kebbi) by President Ibrahim
Badamasi Babangida. During his inaugural speech, the President ordered all the
administrators of the newly created states to immediately report to their
respective jurisdictions.[8]
To ensure proper occupation and governance of the state, however,
the military administrators appointed heads of technical teams made up of
technocrats from among the civil service. These were members who were not to be
encumbered by an Executive Council made up of political appointees or
overburdened by politics. [9] It could be understood that Birnin Kebbi town, being the
headquarters of the Local Government Area as well as the Gwandu Emirate under
the aegis of the defunct Sokoto State, assumed a new dimension of governance.
This transformation assisted in no small measure in brokering the control and
administration of the new state and its capital city, as a number of strategies
were devised for the smooth running of governmental affairs.
However, the alarming growth of the urban population and the poor
response of the Nigerian government are factors that partly contribute to the
high rate of physical development mishaps in Nigerian cities. These cities play
increasing roles in infrastructural and economic change, poverty reduction, and
environmental development, [10] as is the case in Birnin Kebbi town. It is noteworthy that the
position of cities in the global economy varies, as their window of opportunity
for development arises from domestic and foreign direct investments in the area
and their contributions to human development. In developed countries, for
example, there are cities offering good networks and benefits to the rest of
the world, and their impacts are felt in several cities in Nigeria. In this
situation, infrastructural development, however, remains the lifeline of
activities in cities like Birnin Kebbi and its outlying communities and
villages. As may be described, adequate infrastructure and efficient city
management help to broaden the perspectives of city dwellers and foreign
investors, as they enhance the quality of life of individuals as well as the
city as a whole. [11] It is noteworthy that improved urban infrastructure, as well as
effective delivery of public services, is a necessary condition and element for
alleviating poverty in both developing and developed countries. Besides, as
part of good governance, improved accessibility to employment, education,[12] health, and other public services is also important for the
welfare of the people and the city itself. [13]
In line with the foregoing, Birnin Kebbi town fits into the
description of a city, as is evident in other places, due to the impact of
governance injected since its creation in 1991. It has the demographic
characteristics, notably the infrastructural capability and socio-economic
diversity, which qualify it to be regarded as a city. Birnin Kebbi town has a
large human population, which has continued to grow over the years since its
assumption of state capital status in 1991. The estimated human population of
the town was over 366,200,[14] occupying a vast area of land that has been utilized for several
purposes, fundamentally to meet human needs. By and large, it is economically
considered a city because it provides opportunities for people and supports
numerous socio-economic activities apart from agricultural practices, which
remain the major economic matrix in the state. Due to the receptive nature of
the host community and political stability, Birnin Kebbi town accommodates a
large number of people from different ethno-cultural backgrounds and beliefs,
which is a key requirement for city classification.[15]
Government
and the Provision of Offices and Residential Accommodations
It is worth noting that the extant modern social amenities, such
as potable drinking water, electricity, and roads in Birnin Kebbi town, could
not withstand the new status as a state capital. Based on this backdrop, the
bid for accelerating the urbanization of the pristine state became imperative,
hence the intervention of the Federal Government during the first military
administration of the state. This development, henceforth, prompted the
administration to earnestly begin the state administrative office from a
temporary one situated along the Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road. [16] Fundamentally, the immediate task of the administration was to
find residential as well as office accommodation for civil servants in the
state. The urgent need necessitated the rapid solicitation of buildings for
government occupation and activities from individuals, traditional rulers, and
philanthropists, among others.[17] This was systematically achieved, and the urbanization bid
commenced without much hindrance, as people were willing to donate their
properties for the development of the state.
Besides, from 27th August 1991 to 2nd January 1992, the military
government established an administrative machinery that oversaw the sharing of
assets between Sokoto and Kebbi States. This was, no doubt, a herculean task,
as taking inventory of what joined them together required absolute
documentation and physical assessment of what was made available. The need to
address this made the governor and his aides ensure equitable justice in the
distribution and coordination of what belonged to Kebbi State during the
period.[18] It could be reiterated that the state encountered the problem of
insufficient social infrastructure and accommodation for the new administration
to function smoothly. In this situation, the government contacted quite a
number of people, leading to the donation of their houses to the new military
administration for use as offices or residential accommodations. In addition,
as part of efforts toward democratic transition, the military administration
prepared a sound base and framework for state elections to be held
simultaneously with all other states of the federation in Nigeria.[19] In assessing the new state, the military governor did not relent
in his efforts, as developmental processes remained a continuous exercise.
In the actualization of governance in the new state administration
and urban development, the government ensured the consolidation of
heterogeneous groups for effective administration. This factor ensured the
smooth running of the state’s polity toward the institutionalization of peace,
security, and harmonious relations within Birnin Kebbi town, its outlying
communities, and beyond.[20] In fact, the effort of the state government was undoubtedly not
solely on face value but essentially to ensure that all machinery and
apparatuses of the state were put in place for meaningful urban development.
Through this, the government of Kebbi State assuaged the people’s confidence in
the new settlement areas, as the host community also remained receptive in
accommodating the heterogeneous population.
As a matter of fact, the newly created state, through its
urbanized city of Birnin Kebbi, attracted people from the neighboring nations
of Benin and the Niger Republic, who gave their strong support for the growth
of the town. This was because the state encouraged their direct investments,
especially in trade, settlement, and marital relations, which were strengthened
through strong cultural and linguistic conviviality.[21] This action resulted in the acculturation of the new state,
largely due to the strong inherent symbiotic relations arising from the
unrestricted movement and migration of different people who later settled in
Birnin Kebbi town.
Highly essential to the foregoing phenomenon, coupled with its
indigenous nature of governance carried out by traditional rulers in the
respective emirates within the pristine state, a landmark paradigm shift was
ensconced in Birnin Kebbi town. This resulted in the establishment of
administrative machinery in the state, bolstered by some pre-existing local
government areas inherited from the defunct Sokoto State. With this attempt,
the sole administrators were empowered with new commitments and responsibilities
toward peaceful coexistence and the extension of equitable and effective
governance to rural communities in Kebbi State.
As part of the efforts of the Kebbi State government to strengthen
the state's administrative mechanism and apparatus, the government set up a
formidable coordinating committee in 1991 that produced a blueprint for the
development of the state at large. The committee essentially concentrated on
the urbanization agenda of various areas to capture the needs and aspirations
of the newly recruited and migrated workers from the old Sokoto State and
beyond. [22] Through this, nearby communities and villages in proximity to the
state capital were integrated as part of the capital to serve the needs of the
increasing population.
Nevertheless, the attempt to transition to a nascent democratic
government was put in top gear by the newly created Kebbi State government. In
1991, this was initiated to acknowledge the general needs of the country, aimed
at extricating it from the military junta and dictatorial rule of the time. By
this new arrangement, the government prepared Kebbi State for the 14th December
1991 general election, which was to usher in a new civilian administration. By
this development, the election was conducted, and Alhaji Abubakar Musa Garkuwan
Yauri emerged as the winner and became the first executive governor of Kebbi
State.[23] First and foremost, he was saddled with the responsibility of
addressing workers’ conditions, particularly in the area of urbanization, which
the state lacked at the time. However, the country’s instability, among other
factors, seemed to have been responsible for the truncation of government
activities. Although the new administration was short-lived, the state was able
to enjoy dividends of democracy, such as the building of Gwadangaji Housing
Estate, Gesse Housing Units, the construction of complexes for the state
polytechnic, and the provision of water supply in Birnin Kebbi town.[24] This development was not limited to the metropolis of the state
but was also evident in outlying villages and communities.
Essentially, accessibility to safe and proper shelter is vital for
human existence and survival. In response to this, the government of Kebbi
State, in its efforts to provide housing, impacted positively, especially on
the economy, by creating jobs, promoting socio-cultural integration, improving
healthy living and life expectancy, all of which foster inclusive economic
growth. The government strove to stimulate construction by building affordable
houses and overcoming critical constraints in the housing sector. The
establishment of the Kebbi State Urban Development Authority (KUDA) in 1995[25] was charged with the responsibility of overall supervision,
including monitoring and management of urban development and planning across
the state. This development assisted in bridging gaps and preventing unwanted
slumps within the state capital and other urban centres.
In addition, to overcome the housing challenges faced by the Kebbi
State government, it introduced the owner-occupier scheme as a deliberate
policy to enable its citizens to own houses of their own. As a mark of
commitment, the government continued to pursue the programme vigorously and
ensured that the objective was achieved in due course. The scheme had already
been implemented for one hundred and fifty-one (151) intermediate quarters at
Gwadangaji, one hundred and twenty-one (121) junior staff quarters at Gesse
Phase I Housing Estate, and one hundred (100) senior staff quarters at Gesse
Phase II.[26] In addition, a number of similar houses owned by the state
government within the GRA, Birnin Kebbi, were sold to deserving members of the
public. In a related development, seven hundred and fifty (750) housing units
of the Federal Government within Birnin Kebbi town were purchased by the state
government and also slated for the owner-occupier scheme in 2004.[27]
In addition, township roads were constructed within Birnin Kebbi
town and many other link roads to improve accessibility to the state capital by
promoting orderly development within the Birnin Kebbi metropolis. From 1999 to
2003, a total of 35 kilometres of township roads were initially embarked upon
and were provided with streetlights and road furniture.[28] For easy movement and improved aesthetics, major roads in the
town were dualized, thereby eliminating traffic congestion.
In order to forestall flooding, especially during the rainy
seasons, and to minimize the suffering of city dwellers, the government
constructed a giant drainage network in Birnin Kebbi town.[29] This project assisted in draining the water that caused the
destruction of buildings, especially the already weak ones. The new
developmental projects are evident in the series of military and civilian
administrations of the state spanning from 1991 to 2019.
For instance, there was the construction of the first bye-pass in
Birnin Kebbi town in 1994, the establishment of the Science and Technical
Education Board, Kebbi Television, and the expansion of Kebbi Radio Station.[30] Hence, the establishment of the Kebbi State Library Board
improved learning ability and information dissemination in the state. The
military administration made its impact known; for instance, there was the
construction of city gates at the state capital, the establishment of the state
newspaper Equity, and the conversion of Haliru Abdu Trade Fair Complex into the
Birnin Kebbi Multi-Purpose Stadium in order to promote sports, physical
exercise, and youth development programmes. Likewise, the establishment of the
Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, with a modern women’s
development centre and a motherless babies’ home, was noted as part of the
urbanization bid of the military administration. Following this was the
construction of a new High Court complex, the upgrading of Birnin Kebbi Airport
to international standards, and the construction of many link roads connecting
the capital city with outlying communities.[31]
Through the state’s relentless efforts to urbanize the town, there
was the construction of an ultra-modern government house, an ultra-modern
market and motor park, and the establishment of the Family Support Programme
(FSP), maternity, and children’s hospital in the state capital. In the stride
toward ensuring food sufficiency for the state’s growing population and beyond,
there was the completion of the Kebbi Fertilizer Blending Plant at Bulasa
Industrial Layout in 1998.[32] This company facilitated manufacturing and distribution to
farmers at subsidized rates, essentially to boost agricultural production for
food security in the state and beyond. Again, the contributions of the civilian
administrations can never be overemphasized, with the establishment of the
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Birnin Kebbi. There was the construction of a
presidential lodge and banquet hall, a new wing in the government house, and a
new secretariat to provide more offices.[33] This reduced bottlenecks and enormous bureaucracy in the
discharge of duties as delegated.
One of the cardinal objectives of every administration is to
provide adequate and efficient healthcare facilities in every nook and cranny
of the state, which the government has been doing. In addition, the military
and civilian state governments placed emphasis on staff training and welfare in
order to improve medical manpower through various training programmes within
and outside the state. In 2000 alone, the state government expended ₦776,000,500.00 on the
health sector,[34] primarily for the procurement of modern health equipment,
medicines, and other health-related materials. The basic strategy adopted
toward attaining health for all in the state was the standardization of
existing healthcare facilities, as well as the promotion of preventive
healthcare services. For instance, a series of rehabilitation projects was
carried out at Sir Yahaya Specialist Hospital and community healthcare centres
within Birnin Kebbi. Following sporadic complaints from state inhabitants, the
military administration established the Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) Centre in
Birnin Kebbi. Besides, in the process of improving rural health services, the
Hafsat Eye Centre and the kidney dialysis centre were established, and free
medical services were offered by expatriates from overseas in 2004.[35]
Further to the urbanization of the town by both the military and
civilian administrations, and to ease human and material movement, the
government embarked on improving the transport system through various schemes.
The government ensured the supply of commuter buses to shuttle between several
places at highly subsidized fares, branded as the Kebbi State Transport
Authority (KBSTA).[36] It also offered long-term loans to individuals to purchase buses
and small vehicles, with the set objective of easing transportation from rural
communities to urban centres. This was essential because the area is noted for
its agricultural prowess and has been supplying food to the teeming population
of the state and beyond. It is interesting to note that the transportation
system is vital to every economy, as it enables the movement of people, goods,
and services, resulting in the creation of viable economic value. It is also
noteworthy that an efficient transport system underpins economic development,
delivers improvements in quality of life, and enables effective governance of
the state.[37] Aptly, the road construction and rehabilitation across the
country followed a targeted and sequenced approach based on prioritised funding
over the period under review. However, the improvement of the national road
network has assisted in accommodating a diverse population and traffic growth,
as well as facilitating economic and social development through the effective
movement of goods, services, and people.[38]
The essentiality of electricity is critical to the overall
economic development and industrialization ambitions of the government.
Electricity plays a vital role in powering Nigeria’s economy, enhancing
competitiveness, and ensuring a good quality of life for its more than 200
million residents.[39] Both military and civilian administrations, through their
urbanization efforts, decided to supply electricity to both urban and rural
dwellers of Kebbi State. By this development, Birnin Kebbi became the centre of
electricity distribution to Sokoto State and the Niger Republic.[40] The expanded electricity distribution made the existing
infrastructure in Birnin Kebbi town, prior to the creation of the state in
1991, more befitting than when it held only local government headquarters
status. In order to give the town a proper facelift as a state capital, both
military and civilian governors immediately embarked on serious rehabilitation
and construction of roads and drainage systems. This development was aimed at
completely stopping the annual flood menace during the rainy season, which had
been a threat to the lives and properties of the people. By this, many skilled
and unskilled labourers arrived in the town for employment opportunities and
settlement, which was considerably bolstered by the electricity supply.
However, despite the numerous achievements made by both the military and
civilian administrations, there still exist a myriad of challenges faced within
the period under investigation in Birnin Kebbi town, especially between 1991
and 2019.
The Challenges
One
of the main challenges of urban governance is how to make adequate
infrastructure available and to ensure that the existing infrastructure is
functional. As the urban population increases and urban areas expand, the
social infrastructural needs of the dwellers have not proportionally increased
with the growing population in Birnin Kebbi town. Besides, the prevailing
infrastructure easily wears out and becomes deplorable due to the continuous
pressure mounted on it by ever-increasing utilization.[41]
This has dire consequences on the roads, resulting in their debilitating
nature, which in the long run calls for new intervention.
The
environmental and social impacts of the economic dynamism of informal actors
have become a significant source of concern for urban governance. Aside from
the challenge of providing appropriate dump sites, the government is also
concerned about enforcing waste management regulations, especially in getting
urban dwellers to use the approved dump sites.[42]
It has not been easy tracking individual households, artisans, street traders,
and even industries that dispose of their waste indiscriminately against
government regulations. Other challenges include the practice of littering by
motorists, alongside indiscriminate waste disposal, coupled with the smell from
poultry farms and noise from entertainment stalls. All these have heavily
degraded the environment with varying levels of pollution, constituting health
hazards and reducing the standard of living of urban dwellers.[43]
By
and large, there has been indiscriminate erection of buildings, which has
disfigured both permanent and temporary structures, leading to the expansion of
slums in some parts of the town. As cities grow, the limited resources of the
town are also stretched through proportional increases in infrastructural
development, which in turn reinforce competing interests that arise to regulate
the town and its resources. Oftentimes, tension and conflict of interest
predispose struggles among contending groups to control lucrative areas of the
city, such as markets, shopping malls, motor parks, and industrial zones, among
others. However, such conflicts usually arise among government areas within the
urban centre, between local governments, and consequently between states,
sometimes resulting in boundary disputes.[44]
This was evident in the conflict between Dodoru in Kebbi State and Tambawal in
Sokoto State over fishing rights in a river and market control.
Another
challenge is that the more an area becomes highly urbanized, the more it
becomes a competitive centre of attraction for many people seeking greener
pastures. By this status, countless individuals, especially young school
leavers, migrate from different rural communities to urban centres in search of
job opportunities. At the initial stage of urbanization, employment
opportunities exist within the government sector, but with increasing
urbanization, the informal sector of the economy—such as industries and private
organizations—employs more people, thereby making the town more congested and
vulnerable to crimes and criminalities.[45]
However, with the continuous influx of individuals over time, cities become
saturated, and employment opportunities drastically reduce due to growing
competition. This has become a challenge for urban administration, to either
open up new employment opportunities to absorb the increasing population as
state workers or create an enabling environment for the private or informal
sector to accommodate them.
In
other words, urban areas are perceived by many people as places where
individuals can always engage in some form of activity to earn or eke out a
living. Most people who cannot engage in any meaningful economic activity,
especially those without specific skills, tend to involve themselves in
anti-social activities in order to survive.[46]
Such behaviours are perpetrated either by individuals who are already
criminally minded or by those frustrated by unemployment. There has also been
an increasing rate of social vices perpetrated by hoodlums who engage in
criminal acts such as theft, drug abuse, ritual killings, prostitution, and
other despicable acts. These same groups are often instrumental in political
violence during election periods in the state.[47]
In fact, it is instructive to note that most of them are homeless, while quite
a number live in uncompleted buildings and slum areas. These areas have become
strong hideouts for hoodlums, as the impact of government urbanization efforts
has not been felt adequately for their proper rehabilitation.
In
a nutshell, the synthesized challenges of urbanization in Birnin Kebbi area
include lack of commitment to continuity and sustainability, entrenched
corruption, misplacement of priorities, contract inflation, poor bureaucratic
systems, unqualified contractors, and low-quality project execution. These
challenges, for many decades, have inhibited the pace of urbanization in Birnin
Kebbi town, as numerous unqualified engineers have inundated the system due to
widespread corruption and the government’s inability to take the necessary
actions required in Nigeria.
Conclusion
The
paper has examined “Urbanization and Developmental Challenges in Birnin Kebbi,
1991–2019,” and equally revealed how governance has the potential to promote a
viable urbanization drive. Furthermore, it identified a number of challenges
militating against developmental projects vis-Ã -vis urbanization under the
series of civilian and military administrations within the period investigated.
However, the provision of sustainable road networks, residential houses,
electricity, potable water, viable markets, recreation centres, and motor
parks, among others, catered for the increasing population in the study area.
These developmental projects assisted the people in both rural and urban Birnin
Kebbi to feel the impact of governance, which remains the cardinal principle of
any administration in the State.
Bibliography
Oral Informants
|
S/N |
Names |
Age |
Occupation |
Place Of Interview |
Date |
|
1 |
Abubakar Udu Idris
mni |
67 |
Former Head of
Service, Kebbi State |
Gesse Phase 1
Extension |
30th-06-2024 |
|
2 |
Alhaji Shikau, |
76 |
former NARTO
Chairman, Kebbi branch |
Old Garage Birnin
Kebbi |
30th-06-2024
|
|
3 |
Bello Garba, |
53 |
Ministry for Local
Government and Chieftaincy Affairs |
Birnin Kebbi |
20th-06-2024
|
|
4 |
Bello Zaki |
58 |
Deputy Director,
Town Planning Department, KUDA |
KUDA office
Zoromawa Birnin Kebbi |
28th-06-2024 |
|
5 |
Eng. Sani Ahmmad
Gwadangaji |
54 |
Assistant Director
Civil Engineering, Ministry of Works, Birnin Kebbi |
Haliru Abdu |
28th-06-024 |
|
6 |
Garba Hamisu, |
67 |
retired Permanent
Secretary |
Gesse Phase 1 |
21st-06-2024 |
|
7 |
Mallam Sodangi, |
57 |
School Teacher |
Nasarawa Birnin
Kebbi |
15th-04-2024 |
|
8 |
Mallan Sule Tsini |
72 |
Commercial Bus
Driver and Member of NARTO |
New Garage, Birnin
Kebbi |
27th-06-2024
|
|
9 |
TPL Abubakar A.
Yalli, |
58 |
Former Director
Town Planning, Kebbi Urban Development Authority (KUDA) |
Badariya Area,
Birnin Kebbi |
28th-06-2024 |
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[1] N.
Anderson, “Aspect of Urbanism and Urbanization,” in International Journal of Comparative Sociology, Vol. iv, No. 2,
1963, P. 1. Also see V. I. Raplis, Urbanism
in the Making: A Handbook of Survival,… P.2
[2]
Louis Wirth, “Urbanism as a Way of Life,” in American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 44, No. 1, Chicago, Chicago
University Press, July 1938, P. 2
[3]
William Fulton, The New Urbanism: Hope or
Hype for American Communities? Cambridge, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy,
1996, P. 10
[4]
Louis Wirth, “Urbanism as a Way of Life,”….. July 1938, P. 5
[5]
United Nations, Democracy and
Development: The Role of the UN, …PP.7-8 also see P. V. Nared and A. Z. Lamovsek, “Public Open Space as a
Contribution to Urban Development in Small Slovenian Cities,” Urbani Izziv (JSTOR), Vol. 26, 2015 PP.
115-116
[6]
Elton Chan, et al, “Social Infrastructure: The Regeneration of Somers Town,” in
Infrastructural Urbanism, City Design
Research Studio, 2015, P. 58
[7] A.
Shehu, Kebbi State: Yesterday and Today, Nigeria,
Multinational Concepts Limited, 2014, P. 2
[8]
Kebbi State: The Land, History and Governance, Kebbi at 25, A Publication in Commemoration of Silver Jubilee, of
the Creation of Kebbi State, 2016, P. 19
[9] A.
Shehu, Kebbi State, … 2014, P. 30
[10]
Satterthwaiter D,. “The Contribution of Cities to Global Warming and Their
Potential Contributions to Solution, Environment and Urbanization,” ASIA Vol. 1, No. 1, 2010, P. 8
[11]
Oral Interview with Mallam Sodanji, Age 57, School Teacher, at Nasarawa Birnin
Kebbi, on 15th-04-2024
[12] Sani,
A.-U., Dahiru, L. B., Hassan, S., and Bushira Abdullahi. “Fisher Folk and the
Need for Developing Their System of Education for Sustainable Development: A
Survey of Yauri Emirate in Kebbi State.” IOSR Journal of Research & Method
in Education (IOSR-JRME), vol. 7, no. 2, 2017, pp. 71–74.
[13]
Bhattachorya J., “Poverty, Food Insecurity and Nutritional outcomes in
Childreen and Adults,” Journal of Health
Economics, Vol. 23, No. 4, 2004, PP. 840-843
[14]
National Population Commission of Nigeria, 2016
[15]
Olujimi J., “Evolving a Planning Strategy for Managing Urban Sprawl in
Nigeria,” Journal of Human Ecology, Vol.
4, No. 1, 2009, P. 6
[16]
A. Shehu, Kebbi State, … 2014, P. 30
[17]
Oral Interview with Garba Hamisu, Age 67, retired Permanent Secretary, at Gesse
Phase 1, on 21st-06-2024
[18]
Oral Interview with Abubakar Udu Idris mni, Age 67, Former Head of Service
Kebbi State, at Gesse Phase 1 Extension, on the 30th-06-2024, he was
a member of assess sharing committee between Sokoto State and Kebbi State
[19]
Kebbi State: The Land, History and Governance, Kebbi at 25,… 2016, P. 21
[20]
Kebbi State: The Land, History and Governance, Kebbi at 25, ….2016, PP. 19-30
[21]
The Digest Magazine, Attracting
Investments: The Myths and The Realities, Vol. 2, No. 7, October, 2000, PP.
8-9
[22]
TPL Abubakar A. Yalli, Age 58, Former Director Town Planning, Kebbi Urban
Development Authority (KUDA), at Badariya Area, Birnin Kebbi, on 28th-06-2023
[23]
A. Shehu, Kebbi State, … 2014, P. 31
[24]
Kebbi State: The Land, History and Governance, Kebbi at 25,… 2016, P. 22
[25]
Official Document, Kebbi State Urban
Development Authority, Building Regulations, 1995, P. 3
[26]
Kebbi State, Transformation, The Journey
so far, Kebbi State Ministry of Information, Youth, Sport and Culture,
2004, PP. 38-39, also see for more details Kebbi Bulletin, Democracy: Kebbi Reaps Dividends, a monthly Publication of Ministry
of Information, Youth, Sport and Culture, February, 2001, PP. 4-7
[27]
Oral Interview with Bello Zaki, Age 58, Deputy Director Town Planning
Department KUDA, at KUDA office Zoromawa Birnin Kebbi, on 28th-06-2024
[28]
Oral Interview with TPL Abubakar A. Yalli, Age 58, Former Director Town
Planning, Kebbi Urban Development Authority (KUDA), at Badariya Area, Birnin
Kebbi, on 28th-06-2024, also see Kebbi State, Transformation, The Journey so far, Kebbi State Ministry of
Information, Youth, Sport and Culture, 2004, P. 40
[29]
Kebbi State, Transformation, The Journey
so far, Kebbi State …, 2004, PP 40, also see Kebbi State, Giant Strides, The Achievements of a
Visionary Leader: The Administration of Gov. Saidu Usman Nasamu Dakingari, Ministry
of Information, 2014, P. 6
[30]
Kebbi State: The Land, History and Governance, Kebbi at 25,… 2016, P. 24
[31]
Kebbi State, Giant Strides, The
Achievements of a Visionary Leader: The Administration of Gov. Saidu Usman
Nasamu Dakingari, Ministry of Information, 2014, P. 6
[32]
Kebbi State, One Year Achievement of Col.
J. I. P. Ubah in Kebbi, Land of Equity, Ministry of Information Youth Sport
and Culture, August, 1996-August 1997, PP. 24-25, also see Kebbi State: The
Land, History and Governance, Kebbi at
25,… 2016, P. 27
[33]
Kebbi State: The Land, History and Governance, Kebbi at 25,… 2016, P. 28 also see details on the establishment of
School of Nursing and Midwifery in Kebbi State, 12 Months of Stewardship of Governor Adamu Aliero, in Kebbi State: The
Beginning of a Promising Tomorrow, Kaduna, Da’a Press Ltd, 2002, P. 18
[34]
Kebbi State, “Redemption Budget, Year 2000 for Kebbi State,” Land of Equity, 2000, PP. 8-9
[35]
Kebbi State: The Land, History and Governance, Kebbi at 25,… 2016, P. 25 and P. 29
[36]
Oral Interview with Alhaji Shikau, Age 76, former NARTO Chairman Kebbi branch,
Old Garage, Birnin Kebbi, on 30th-06-2024
[37]
Oral Interview with Mallan Sule Tsini, Age 72, Commercial Bus Driver and Member
of NARTO, at New Garage, on 27th-06-2024
[38]
Oral Interview with Eng. Sani Ahmmad Gwadangaji, Age 54, Assistant Director
Civil Engineering, Ministry of Works, Birnin Kebbi, at Haliru Abdu, on 28th-06-024
[39]
African Development Bank Group, An
Infrastructure Action Plan for Nigeria: Closing the Infrastructure Gap and
Accelerating Economic Transformation, Tunis, The Knowledge and Information
Center (KVRC), 2020, P. 25
[40]
Kebbi State, One Year Achievement, …,
P. 26
[41]
Job Momoh, et al, “Challenges Facing Nigeria: The Abuja Case,” in Journal of Sustainable Development in
Africa, Vol. 20, No. 2, ISSN: 1520-5509, Pennsylvania, LSBU Research Open,
2018, P. 37 and P. 39
[42]
Adesoji A. O. Solid Waste Management
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[43]
Nurudeen M. M., “Waste Disposal Mechanism and Health Implication Among the
Residents of Gusau, Zamfara State,” B. Sc
Project, Sociology Department, Federal University Gusau, June 2024, P. 4
and P. 6
[44]
Oral Interview with Bello Garba, Age 53, Ministry for Local Government and
Chieftaincy Affairs, Birnin Kebbi, 20th-06-2024
[45]
Khaliel A. S., “Challenges of Urban Governance in Nigeria,” in World Journal of Research and Review,
Vol. 12, No. 6, ISSN: 2455-3956, 2021, P. 1
[46]
Jamilu Shehu, “A Social and Political History of Katsina Metropolis 1960-2007,”
Ph.D. Thesis, Department of History,
Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto, 2013, P. 290
[47]
A. Abba, “Violent Politics and Elections in Nigeria: The Example of the
Northern States, 1951-2003,” Gombe
Studies Journal of Gombe State University, Vol.1, No. 1, December, 2008, p.
179, see also Paul Collier, Wars, Guns
and Votes: Democracy in Dangerous Places, London, Vintage Books, 2010, PP.
55-57
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