THE TRADITIONAL SETTLEMENT PATTERNS IN THE JOS METROPOLIS AND THE CHALLENGES TO THE “GREATER JOS MASTER PLAN” OF THE 21ST CENTURY.
Emmanuel Sambo Kudu
Department of Urban and Regional Planning
University of Jos, Nigeria.
E-mail:emmanuelsambokudu@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Before its growth to urban status, where today, is called the Jos metropolis had been settled by indigenous populations (Berom, Anaguta, Rukuba and Afizere). As elsewhere in the Middle Belt area, Jos was dotted here and there with traditional settlements linking one settlement to another by narrow footpaths. The advent of colonialism and attendant mining activities introduced into the Jos area some semblance of modern settlement, with wider motorable roads. However, this development had continued but at a “snail pace”. The problem today is how a truly modern pattern of settlement can be developed, to replace the stubbornly surviving traditional settlement pattern. The problem has lingered through the ages with one master plan to another, with just some minimal successes. This has triggered in the following questions: what has been the actual problem besetting the implementation of the Greater Jos Master Plan? What does the Greater Jos Master Plan involve? What has been the reaction of the indigenous populations to the plan? These and many more constitute the focus of this paper. The method adopted here involved the use of questionnaire, administered to selected elders of the Jos metropolis and staff of the Ministry of Land Survey and Town Planning. Responses were matched against a few existing written reports for objective appreciation of the problem and what suggestions can be made. The findings showed that in addition to reluctance to pay compensation, there has never been a programme of enlightenment.
