ASSESSMENT OF THE INTEGRATION SCHEME IN ABUJA

(A CASE STUDY OF GARKI)

By

Author

Presented To

Department of Environmental Design

ABSTRACT
The thesis presents a review and assessment of integration - one the policies adopted for the resettlement of the populations affected by the new Federal Capital development project in Abuja, Nigeria. The other policies, tried before the introduction of integration are complete and partial resettlement with varying degrees of measures to evacuate the affected settlements to other locations within the Federal Capital Territory or outside. The policy of integrating some of the indigenous settlements into the fabric of new developments was conceived as an aftermath of the failure of the other policies especially due to high costs of compensation. More than ten years since its adoption in a pioneer scheme at Garki, the study has revealed that although the implementation of integration has avoided some of the problems of other policies, it has created others with equally serious consequences both on the people and the development of the new city. The policy, aimed at containing the original settlements rather than expelling them, has brought the indigenous populations face to face with new developments that have threatened their traditional ways of life and means of sustenance. Some of the consequences of integration as represented by the Garki project include the influx of migrants who through monetary enticements have dispossessed the people of land for housing. There is also shortage of land for farming. There are also effects on the way of life of the population itself - changes in employment and income, longer travel distances to farms, changes in the structure and form of the settlement etc. In addition, integration has not been implemented as initially conceived. Thus infrastructure and social facilities are not adequate, alternative spaces for housing are not appropriate and compensation, where applicable, too small. The study made recommendations on measures necessary to maintain and improve the use of the integration policy in Garki and other parts of Abuja.