Urban migration in Nigeria accelerated rapidly after independence in 1960, transforming the country’s social and economic fabric. The shift from a largely agrarian society to one increasingly urban and industrial reflected both global postcolonial trends and local political choices. Urbanisation became one of the most visible outcomes of national development policies, particularly during periods of economic expansion and oil-driven prosperity.
Before independence, the British colonial administration had established key urban centres such as Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Enugu, and Kaduna primarily as administrative, commercial, and transport hubs. These towns were strategically located along railway lines and major roads designed to move raw materials to coastal ports. Following independence, these cities became magnets for rural migrants seeking improved livelihoods, employment, and access to education and healthcare.
Nigeria’s urban population rose from approximately 15% in 1960 to over 38% by 1990, according to data from the United Nations Population Division. This increase was accompanied by both economic diversification and mounting challenges in urban governance and social infrastructure.
Early Post-Independence Migration (1960–1970)
The first decade of independence was characterised by optimism and reconstruction. Federal and regional governments expanded educational institutions, civil service structures, and public works, creating urban-based employment opportunities. Lagos, then the federal capital, became the epicentre of migration, attracting civil servants, traders, and artisans from across the country. Other cities such as Ibadan, Enugu, and Kaduna experienced similar influxes as they evolved into regional capitals within Nigeria’s federal framework.
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Rural-urban migration during this period was mainly voluntary and driven by economic motivation. Improved road networks, coupled with the expansion of secondary and tertiary education, facilitated movement. However, rapid population growth soon overwhelmed city planning, resulting in early housing shortages and informal settlements.
The Oil Boom and Urban Expansion (1970–1980)
The discovery of commercial oil and the subsequent oil boom of the 1970s profoundly altered Nigeria’s economic geography. With increased oil revenue, the federal government launched massive public spending on infrastructure, education, and housing projects. Cities such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna became industrial centres linked to petroleum and manufacturing activities.
The period also saw the creation of new states and local governments, leading to the development of administrative capitals such as Minna, Akure, and Calabar. The Second National Development Plan (1970–1974) emphasised industrialisation and urban-based development, which encouraged further migration to cities.
However, the benefits of the oil boom were unevenly distributed. Rural regions suffered neglect as government priorities shifted from agriculture to oil-based revenue. Agricultural productivity declined, and youth migration intensified, deepening the rural-urban divide. According to economist Akin L. Mabogunje, this shift entrenched “a pattern of unbalanced urban growth that strained both physical and social infrastructure.”
Economic Adjustment and Urban Strain (1980–1999)
By the early 1980s, the Nigerian economy faced severe challenges as global oil prices fell. The subsequent Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) introduced under General Ibrahim Babangida in 1986 aimed to stabilise the economy through privatisation, deregulation, and reduced public spending. In practice, SAP led to inflation, job losses, and a decline in real wages.
Urban unemployment rose sharply as industries closed or downsized, while rural-urban migration continued due to limited rural opportunities. Informal economic activities expanded, with many migrants engaging in street vending, transport work, and small-scale production. Slums and unplanned settlements proliferated in cities such as Lagos, Onitsha, Kano, and Benin City.
Despite the hardships, urban centres remained focal points of innovation, political activity, and cultural exchange. The social networks and ethnic diversity of Nigerian cities fostered resilience, but rising poverty and poor housing became persistent issues. Urban authorities struggled to provide essential services such as waste management, public transport, and health care, leading to widespread social discontent.
Economic and Social Transformations
Economic Transformation
Urban migration stimulated Nigeria’s transition from an agrarian economy to one increasingly based on manufacturing, services, and trade. Lagos emerged as the nation’s financial hub, hosting banks, multinational corporations, and industrial estates such as Apapa and Ikeja. Smaller cities like Kano, Aba, and Nnewi became centres of commerce and small-scale manufacturing.
However, the economic advantages of urbanisation were uneven. While the formal economy expanded briefly during the oil boom, structural inefficiencies and corruption hindered sustainable growth. The informal sector, comprising small traders, artisans, and transport operators, absorbed much of the urban workforce, reflecting the imbalance between population growth and formal employment opportunities.
Social and Cultural Change
Urbanisation reshaped Nigeria’s social fabric. The influx of migrants from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds transformed cities into multicultural spaces. Inter-ethnic marriages, shared markets, and political alliances reflected this integration, though competition over land and jobs occasionally led to tension.
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Family structures evolved as the extended family system weakened in urban settings. Nuclear families became more common, and women increasingly participated in the workforce. Urban migration also fostered social mobility through access to education and modern professions. However, urban poverty, overcrowding, and crime became major social concerns, particularly from the 1980s onward.
Colonial and Policy Legacies
The roots of Nigeria’s urban migration patterns lie partly in colonial policies. British urban planning prioritised administrative efficiency and resource extraction, neglecting rural development. As noted by urban scholar Akin Mabogunje, this “colonial bias towards towns” created long-term regional disparities. Post-independence governments largely continued this pattern, concentrating investment in a few cities while rural communities remained underdeveloped.
Transport infrastructure, including railways and ports, was primarily designed to serve export industries. After independence, these networks facilitated internal migration toward cities but did little to support balanced regional growth. Furthermore, colonial spatial segregation policies influenced postcolonial housing inequalities, as elites occupied planned districts and migrants settled in informal communities with limited amenities.
Legacy and Contemporary Relevance
By 2020, Nigeria had become one of the most urbanised countries in Africa, with over 52% of its population living in urban areas (World Bank, 2022). Lagos, with an estimated population exceeding 15 million, is now a global megacity and economic hub for West Africa. Abuja, developed in the 1980s as a purpose-built federal capital, symbolises Nigeria’s continuing commitment to urban development, though challenges persist.
Urbanisation today presents both opportunities and risks. Cities drive innovation, commerce, and education, yet they also face pressing issues such as congestion, unemployment, and inadequate housing. Contemporary government policies, including the National Urban Development Policy (2012) and the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (2014–2043), aim to promote sustainable urban growth and decentralisation.
However, implementation remains uneven. Population pressures and unequal development continue to fuel migration toward major cities. Addressing these challenges requires integrated planning that strengthens rural economies, improves governance, and invests in inclusive infrastructure.
Urban migration since 1960 has been central to Nigeria’s transformation from a colonial economy to a modern state. It has driven industrial growth, fostered cultural diversity, and expanded educational and professional opportunities. Yet, it has also produced deep socioeconomic inequalities, infrastructural strain, and environmental degradation.
Sustainable urban development in Nigeria depends on policies that link rural revitalisation with urban planning. As the nation continues to urbanise, managing the balance between growth and equity remains essential to its long-term stability.
Author’s Note
This article provides an account of Nigeria’s post-independence urban migration, drawing from historical and economic sources. It shows how state policies, oil wealth, and demographic pressures shaped Nigeria’s urban evolution, while highlighting enduring challenges of inequality and planning. The study affirms the need for inclusive urban development strategies in addressing Nigeria’s modernisation challenges.
References
- Mabogunje, Akin L. Urbanisation in Nigeria. University of London Press, 1968.
- Olanrewaju, D. O. Urban Infrastructure and Development in Nigeria. University of Ado-Ekiti Press, 2001.
- World Bank. World Development Indicators: Urban Population (% of total). Washington D.C., 2022.
