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Urban Development Profile of Jos Tin City, Nigeria

  • Rasheed Osuolale Oladosu
  • Mohammed Abdulkadir
  • Auwal Haruna
  • 656-667
  • Jul 2, 2023
  • Development Studies

Urban Development Profile of Jos Tin City, Nigeria

Rasheed Osuolale Oladosu*, Mohammed Abdulkadir, Auwal Haruna
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi)
*Corresponding Author

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2023.7650

Received: 24 May 2023; Accepted: 02 June 2023; Published: 02 July 2023

ABSTRACT

Jos is a renowned cosmopolitan city owning to its origin as a Tin mining settlement that magnetized people from diverse background across Nigeria, other African countries, and beyond. The precise origin, original founder and ownership of the city has unresolvedly involved a lot of intricacies and remains a subject of controversies as it is exclusively claimed by the Afizere, Hausa, Anaguta and Berom ethnic progenies. It is however a near consensus that Naraguta and Gwash villages initially existed at the current site of the city and its foundation as a modern town in 1915 was at the instance of the colonial officials who came to the area on a mission of tin mining exploration. The combination of its locational centrality within the northern states, unique climatic characteristics, rich history of tin deposit, diverse sources of tourist attractions, wide area of influence of its international ultra-modern market and outstanding fame as a consistent administrative centre, were highly instrumental to its rapid population growth, area expansion, urbanization and infrastructural development. The city was however plagued into series of massive urban violence in the first decade of the 21st century leading to its polarization along ethno-religious divides that currently influences its urban structural arrangement and residential configurations.

KEYWORDS: Jos, Locational Centrality; Urban Violence; Tourism; Tin Mining; Residential Segregation

INTRODUCTION

Jos, popularly called the Tin City especially among the Tropical African nations, is the capital of Plateau state, one of the thirty-six (36) states of the federal republic of Nigeria. A renowned cosmopolitan city and the foremost tourism hub of the country, is strategically located almost at the geographical center of the country (Fig. 1) within the middle belt; officially christened as the North-central geo-political zone. Jos metropolis is currently made up of two local governments, Jos North and Jos South.

The culture of cities was quite alien to most parts of the tropical Africa nations until their emergence during the colonial time in response to economic stimuli [1]. It was within such context that Jos came into being as a result of the discovery and rapid expansion of tin mining activities in the area. Although still considered relatively new in comparison with many Nigerian cities [2], Jos officially came into the status of a town and was physically laid out in 1915 [3] and [2] even though it has been founded about a decade earlier in 1902/1903.

The city lies on 9055 N and 8055E. Its location on a striking height of over 1,200 meters above sea level combined with its unique climatic attributes with mean annual temperature below 20oC and annual precipitation of about 1,460 mm, making it cooler than other settlements on the same latitude, makes it very attractive to visitors from within and outside the country. In the recent past, many people prefer to live and work in Jos than elsewhere within the zone. In fact, it is often said that all ‘who is who’ Nigerians have homes in Jos. To many citizens of the nation, it is a miniature Nigeria [4].This perhaps is the reason why it is tagged ‘the home of peace and tourism’.

The combination of its locational centrality, unique physical and climatic characteristics, prime history of tin mining and outstanding fame as a consistent administrative centre was responsible for its rapid population expansion from a mere 14,817 in 1930 [5] and [6] to about one million inhabitants in 2016; and as well for its current cosmopolitan status with vast cultural diversity. This was however, instrumental to its challenges of ethno-religious crises and eventual residential segregation at the turn of the century.

Location Map of Jos, Plateau State

Fig. 1: Location Map of Jos, Plateau State

Source: Google Earth Pro (2020)

COMPLICATIONS OF HISTORICAL ORIGIN

The Jos Plateau is known to have existed before the colonial time and inhabited from the early Africa stone age- the Acheulean period. Handaxes in the region have been radio-carbon dated to 3,000 B.C. and the agriculturally advanced late stone Age Nok culture, noted for its work in pottery and terracotta which flourished during the period between 2,200 B.C. and 200 A.D. [7].   The origin of Jos itself and the intricacies of the first arrival in its current site is perhaps one of the most complicated in the history of cities on the Africa continent. This cannot equally be divorced from its eventual unfortunate experience of crises and residential segregation that occurred especially through the first decade in the 21st century. Four main tribes, the Hausa, Afizere, Anaguta and Berom lay claim to the original founder and ownership of the city. Some contradictory statements of the colonial administrators of the city do not aid the course either.

According to [6], the city of Jos as presently constituted, came into being as a result of four mutually exclusive factors. First is the ‘Diban Gwamna.’ which literally translates as conscription to the service of the colonial administrators when all chiefs under the colonial masters were mandated to with or without the consent of their subjects, recruit labourers to work in the newly discovered tin deposit sites in the vicinity of today’s Jos. 80% of the recruits according to this claim, were Hausas, while the combination of Nupe, Jukun, Yoruba, Kanuri and Barba constituted 20%. Secondly, the Hausa traders on trade mission who rendered services to workers in the tin mines settled in the vicinity of the current Jos which they claimed was a virgin land. More so, relics of some of these early settlers’ buildings such as Gidan Farinwata (Fig. 2) that was built in 1902 still exist in Sarkin Arab ward of the city.

GidanFarinwata in Sarkin Arab ward built in 1902

Fig. 2: Gidan Farinwata in Sarkin Arab ward built in 1902

The third factor is that the current Jos was part of Bauchi province and as such the chiefs of Jos who initially were all Hausas, were posted from Bauchi. Lastly, the political boundary adjustment by the colonial administrators led to the foundation of Jos. The Afizere Jarawa even though does not outrightly refute the claims made by the Hausa regarding their long time arrival in Jos, argues to have existed in the current site of Jos before the arrival of the former. Hence are the original owners of the city, underpinning for example, the statement of Colonel Laws, the team leader of European expedition on the Plateau in 1903, that “a small hill village called Gwash occupied the present location of Jos. Hausa traders who arrived supposedly mispronounced Gwash for Jos and the name stuck.” This was further clarified by the statement of S.E.M. Stobart who wrote in 1914 that the people of Jos belonged to the Jarawa tribe who migrated from Fobura about a century before that year [4] and [6]. The Jarawa insists that the Berom rather lived down south of Jos and later migrated to the current Jos area while the Anaguta was to the north. The Berom however disagrees and maintains to be the extant occupants of Jos as presently obtained.

Despite the multiplicity of claims regarding the founder and foundation of the city, it has been widely reported to have originated from the two settlements of Naraguta and Gwash. The village of Naraguta, just to the north of Jos, was founded by the Anaguta people, but it was sacked during the Hausa-Fulani raids for slaves and the Hausa settled there and converted the village into a base for launching attacks on the hill tribes further south. The Plateau people were however very resistant and the Hausas were unable to penetrate any further [3].

In 1902, the first European, Colonel George Nicolaus, arrived on the Plateau to investigate the possibilities of opening up the area for tin mining. Nicolaus noted that the gravels of the Delimi river were rich in tin, and in 1903 Colonel Laws arrived and set up his first camp at Naraguta. Initially the tin mining expanded slowly due to problems of accessibility. But by 1910, there were about fifty foreign miners working on the plateau. By 1913 there was a total average output of more than 5,000 tons of cassiterite per annum, and a census taken in 1914 recorded 2,710 people living in Naraguta [7].

At about the same time, there was a mass exodus to Jos and until then there was a small Jarawa settlement at the foot of the museum hill, called Gwash. The movement from Naraguta to Jos was influenced by several factors [7]. One was that the then new Hausa chief of Naraguta, refused to occupy the house of his predecessor, rather decided to move to the current location of Jos in the company of his officials and family. The second factor was that the tin miners had discovered that the richest deposits of cassiterite were to the south of Naraguta, hence most of the mining activities were concentrated in the upper Delimi valley. The third and perhaps the most important factor, was the arrival of the 2I x 6II Bauchi light railway in Jos by 1914. This opened the area to other towns; such as Zaria and as well the foreign markets.

In 1915, Jos officially became a town and plans were laid out. Most of the inhabitants were immigrants, and the majority of these were Hausa. According to [5], the census of 1930 detailed the ethnic distribution of the settlement (Table 1).

TABLE 1 ETHNIC DISTRIBUTION IN JOS, 1930

Ethnic group Population % of total (1 decimal place)
Total 14817 100.0
Hausa   6498 43.8
Beriberi   1906 12.9
Bagirmi   1677 11.3
Fulani   1097  7.4
Tera    648  4.4
Kerikeri    590  4.0
Arab Shuwa    424  2.9
Yoruba    249  1.7
Igbo    225  1.5
Babire    221  1.5
Nupe    148  1.0
Zaberwa    154  1.0
Munshi (Tiv)    153  1.0
Balewa     95  0.6
Asaba     66  0.5
Berom     55  0.4
Other northern provinces    430  2.9
Other southern provinces    165  1.1
African foreigners     16  0.1

Source: Freund (1981)

INSTRUMENTAL FACTORS OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

              The city of Jos grew and developed at a high rate since its official declaration as a town in 1915. The rapid growth in its population was attributed to natural factors such as favourable climate, rich solid mineral deposits particularly tin ore and tourism potentials. Man-made influences, including the development of tourism centres and supporting infrastructure as well as the construction of a model ultramodern international market in the city and its designation as a state capital over a long period., also played notable impacts on its development. The interplay of these physical and socio-cultural mutually inclusive variables discussed below, are crucial in the discussion of the city’s growth and development and urban fame.

Climate

Though situated in the tropical zone, the climate of Jos is the nearest equivalent of the temperate climate in many European countries. The temperatures with mean annual range of about 190 Celsius, are generally several degrees lower than other parts of the country. The precipitation of orographic origin, is much higher than obtainable in other settlement on the same latitude due to its location on a higher altitude at over 1,200 metres above sea level. The city is cool in many months of the year, but extremely cold in the months of December, January and February due to the dry harmattan winds that blows from Sahara desert. Also unlike other cities in Nigeria, the relative humidity is less than 25% between March and November. The city generally has invigorating climate, hence it has the largest concentration of resident expatriates in the former British West African colonies today [8]. During the colonial era, Jos was thought of as the most suitable city for colonial officers to spend their job vacations and to convalesce in a healthy surrounding (Plateau state today, 1991). Many Nigerians also prefer to expend their annual leave in Jos and this perhaps is responsible for a large number of lodging and accommodation services found in the city today.

Administrative Functions

Jos has since before officially founded in 1915, consistently functioned as an administrative centre till date. In 1910 for instance, Mines department was established in the city to oversee the activities of over 100 foreign mining companies that were to be established in the area in 1915 [8] and [1]. In 1967, Benue Plateau state was created out of Bauchi province [8] with Jos made the capital and further in 1976, Nigeria was further subdivided into smaller administrative units of 19 states with the city retained as the capital of Plateau state. When another state was gazetted out of the state in 1996, Jos remained the administrative host of the government’s seat. All along, it has simultaneously served as the administrative headquarters of Jos local government. The administrative headquarters of many federal parastatals and agencies; such as Industrial Training Fund (ITF), National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS, the nation’s highest institution of research), and National Veterinary Research Institute (NVR) are all situated in the city. All these have, in significant measure led to infrastructural growth and overall development of the city.

Tin Mining

Jos used to be an extensive tin mining area in Nigeria and a major contributor to the overall global output of the product, most especially between 1940s and 1960s [9]. It was a colonial city officially created by the colonial administrators, because of the mineral wealth (tin and columbite) extensively found in the surrounding area. By 1913, there were about 108 registered companies with the Royal Niger Company [10] and by 1943, tin exploration was at the peak in the city, employing over 80,000 Africans and a significant number of Europeans. The tin production which was a mere 1458 tons at inception, had by 1944 during the World War II, grown to 17000 tons [7]. [9] maintained that as a result of the industrial revolution and subsequently the World War II, the demand for tin was very high. Hence, Jos was brought to international limelight as it became highly famous within the African continent and across the globe.

Although like other essential statistical records in Nigeria, data on the production of the tin is quite scanty. In 1968, 83.02 percent of the total tin production in the country, was from the then Benue-Plateau state, especially from the area around Jos while columbite accounted for 91.0 percent [7] and [10]. The value grew to 85.7 percent in 1972 (Table 2) after which there was a consistent sharp reduction in production output due to price fluctuations and the shift of the federal government’s interest to the newly discovered crude oil in the southern part of the country. Nonetheless, as at the country’s independence in 1960, Jos remained the largest tin producer in Africa and the sixth largest in the global ranking [9]. Only a few locations of unofficial mining by the local miners can currently be traced around the city and other rural areas in the state.

TABLE 2 SOME DATA ON TIN MINING IN JOS (1909-1972)

Year Quantity (tons) % of Nigeria’s Total Production of Tin % of Nigeria’s Total Production
1909  1458 NA NA
1913  5000 NA NA
1931 11000 NA NA
1944 17000 NA NA
1963 NA 83.2 15.0
1968 10000 83.0 14.0
1972 NA 85.7 NA

NA – Not available

Source: Extracts from Dung-Gwom (1981) and Omokhodion Associates (1980)

Jos was in the past virtually surrounded by various tin mines and many small villages where the workers of the mines lived were adjacent to the then mining sites. The total population of the adjoining rural areas was estimated at62,287 during the 1963 census [7]. Today, they have all become part of the city as a result of urban expansion.

Despite the colonial government’s initial policy made to protect the rights of indigenous people [5], many mine ponds such as the examples given in Fig. 3, that developed as a result of the open mine cast that was initially employed to remove the alluvial deposit and the later mechanized mining techniques by the colonial government, left much to be desired as many of them are neither reclaimed nor utilized for sustainable development activities till date. Rather, they have turned to open ponds, gullies and deep scars with their attendant devastating environmental challenges as presently found in residential areas around the city [11]. In fact, studies such as [12] and [13] noted that more than 316km2 of land was destroyed through open cast mining with about 3948km2 rivers’ catchment areas equally affected on the Jos plateau. Although the affected areas are put at 3% on the state-wide land [14], employing Geographic information system (GIS) techniques, the damaged land in the southern part of Jos was observed to be 24.58% in the period between 1975 and 2005 [15].

Sections of some mine ponds in residential areas in Jos and environs

Fig. 3: Sections of some mine ponds in residential areas in Jos and environs

(a. Du village; b. Rayfield; c. Ran Kwangdu.)

Source: Adapted from Edun and Davou (2013)

Tourism

Tourism has also made significant contributions to the growth, development and rich ethnic diversity of Jos. In the colonial days, although Jos town was earmarked as a mining and later an administrative centre, it was equally considered a tourist haven. Due to natural and unique mild climate, beautiful scenery, and admirable landscape, it has consistently attracted tourist, and has a record of excellent reputation as the tourist hub of the Nigerian nation. For these reasons, the effort of successive state governments to develop tourism in Jos has attracted huge beneficial results for the development of the entire economy of the Tin city as well as the whole state and federal economies. Back in 1976 when Plateau state was created out of the Benue-Plateau state, the government began to conceive a more serious approach to the development of its tourism industry with consideration to exploit its geographical advantages; mainly to provide opportunities for visitors to visit the state as well as providing leisure outlets and stimulating environments to the local people. Research so far conducted in respect of Nigeria’s tourism potentials, portrayed the Jos Plateau as perhaps the region with the greatest potentials for tourism development in Nigeria [16].

Jos city is equally well developed for catering services for visitors through the offering of a considerable range of facilities which offer exquisite ground for group tourists. These potentials together with the hospitality of the inhabitants, have placed the city as the most ideal tourist haven or sanctuary in the entire federation [16]. Its attractions which include both the rich natural and cultural heritage are numerous, making a visit to places of interest in and around Jos a much rewarding adventure and discovery. Some of the many interesting places in the city include:

Jos Zoological Garden

The zoological garden, which was established in 1957, adjoins the museum and the paddocks. It cages animals and birds in almost their natural sanctuary among rock trees that are ingenious approximations of their natural habitats. It houses rare specimens of rare mammals (22 species and 68 specimens), birds (19 species and 60 specimens), and reptiles (10 species and 59 specimens) which include among others, lions, elephants, tigers, crocodiles, pythons, peacocks and a host of others [16].

Museum of Traditional Nigerian Architecture (MOTNA)

A special architectural museum, possibly the only type in sub-Sahara Africa, whose aim is to preserve the diverse traditional Nigerian architecture, is housed by Jos city. It covers a land area of 60 acres divided into zones according to similar types of architecture. Full scale replica of Katsina palace, Kano wall, Mbasi House (Owerri), a Tiv compound, Ilorin central mosque and others were erected and preserved therein [17].

National Museum Jos

The Jos museum (Fig. 4) is the oldest museum to be built in the whole Nigeria and by far the wealthiest and diverse in exhibits. Located right in the heart of the city, was established in 1952 by the then Federal Department of Antiquities to the colonial government in Nigeria.

Jos museum complex plan & structure

Fig. 4: Jos museum complex plan & structure

              Items uncovered from the tin mining fields of Jos plateau since the 1920s, to a large extent motivated the desire for a museum to house the valuable artefacts. In its first year of operation, the museum recorded 64,418 visitors. This has tremendously increased over the years with a cumulative record of 4, 456,031 visitors between 2001 and 2016 (Table 3). There were significant fluctuations most likely attributable to the crises that engulfed the city between 2001 and 2010.

The diverse nature and distinctive exhibits of the complex greatly accounts for its popularity and it is easily accessible to both the city’s dwellers and visitors from other parts of the country and beyond for academic research and entertainments. The cool airy shades of the environment and the continuous chirping of tropical birds are a source of repose from the hum-drum of city life. It has an accumulation of the relics of the Terracotta sculptures of Nok culture as its most distinguished feature. On both sides of the museum, is the Zoological garden mentioned above; and some of the characteristic huts granaries of the plateau and surrounding tribes. Although primarily devoted to the archaeology and ethnography of the plateau area, the museum is at the same time the research centre for the pre-history of the entire federation. Examples of sculptures, embroidery, and wood carvings from all over the country, that are equally housed by the museum, give visitors and tourists a glimpse of the richness of Nigerian traditional culture.

TABLE 3 SUMMARY OF VISITORS’ STATISTICS TO JOS MUSEUM, 2001-2016

Year Foreign visitors Nigerian visitors Total Cumulative
2001 7,032 177,082 184,114 184,114
2002 5,382 201,727 208,109 392,223
2003 5,124 275,809 280,933 673,156
2004 3,397 273,012 276,409 949,565
2005 3,544 241,871 245,415 1,194,980
2006 3,285 243,654 247,036 1,442,016
2007 9,270 429,703 438,973 1,880,989
2008 5,384 225,619 231,003 2,111,992
2009 2,049 399,783 401,832 2,513,824
2010 10,902 134,255 145,157 2,658,981
2011 NA NA 69,686 2,728,667
2012 6,869 509,279 516,148 3,244,815
2013 NA NA 278,554 3,523,369
2014 1,545 154,864 156,409 3,679,778
2015 2,321 298,360 300,681 3,980,459
2016 3,140 472,432 475,572 4,456,031

Source: Education Department, Jos Museum (2017)

Jos Wildlife Park

This is the most developed man made recreation park in Plateau state. It covers land area of 8km2 enclosing hills, rivers and valleys. The VwongNfwel Hill at about 1,400 metres above sea level with a commanding view of the rest of the park and the Jos township, is a much patronized picnic site [16]. The zoological garden of the park has variety of exotic animals like hippopotamus, elephants, zebras, different kinds of birds and variety of reptiles and many others.

The park café (restaurant) built in 1972, the then initial site of the Honeymoon cottage owned by an English man named John Marshal, still exists at the park.

Jos Ultra-Modern Market

The Jos Ultra-Modern main market (Fig.5a and 5b) commissioned in 1984 has equally in the past, added to the fame and development of the Tin city, its economic prosperity and captivating architectural beauty. Situated within the Central Business District (CBD) of the city, the size and standard of the market, makes it not only the first of its type in Nigeria but the whole of the West African sub-region [7]. It offered a good revenue base for the state government until it got burnt through bomb blast in February 2001. Apart from the over 4,290 stalls of various types and sizes, the market could comfortably accommodate over 300 cars, 60 trailers and 200 buses at once. There were also available lay-byes that could take over 60 taxis at a time and provision was adequately made for over 5,000 different categories of traders, a banking hall, post office, security post and restaurants [7]. Its area of influence ran through many West African countries.

Jos Ultra-modern market before bombed

Fig. 5a: Jos Ultra-modern market before bombed

Jos Ultra-modern market after bombed

Fig. 5b: Jos Ultra-modern market after bombed

CHALLENGES OF URBAN VIOLENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS SEGREGATION

As earlier discussed, the development of Jos has a strong bond with its history of tin mining which magnetized people from diverse background for varying purposes in the tin mining industry that experienced boom up to the time of the World War II with intervals of fluctuations in production output (Table 2). The indigenous groups were initially hostile to the foreign mining interest, hence the colonial administrators adopted different administrative strategies over the indigenes and the settlers that worked in the mine camps. This was the root of the friction that eventually transformed into a full scale urban violence at the beginning of the 21st century.

Although there were reports of disruptions, frictions, misunderstandings and demonstrations on issues hovering around resource control and leadership of Jos in 1945, 1972, and 1994 [2], the city experienced a long period of peaceful co-existence among all ethnic groups until it was sadly engulfed in series of deadly crises all through the first decade of the 21st century [19]; the first of which occurred from 7th – 12th September, 2001. It became popular because of its coincidence with the September 11 attack in the United States. There was a re-occurrence of the crises in 2002, 2008, and 2010 as shown in Table 4. There were also silent killing spree and intermittent uprising between the periods.

TABLE 4  SUMMARY OF JOS CRISES’ EVENTS (2001-2010)

Date of eruption Number of death recorded* Cause(s)**
7th July, 2001 1000 Refusal of Muslim worshippers to allow  a Christian lady walk across their congregation rows which extended to the road during Friday prayer and the insistence of the latter.
2nd May, 2002 NA Political dispute during the ruling party’s ward congress election.
27th November, 2008 761 Allegation and counter allegations by political parties over manipulations attempt of Jos North local government election and eventual disagreement over the result.
17th January, 2010 224 Rebuilding of an earlier burnt structure by a Muslim resident in a Christian dominated neighborhood.

* Figures vary with other reports                 

** There are remote causes according to reports.

Source: Extracted from Dung-Gwom (2009); Human Right Watch (2001)             

The crises further resulted in the drifting apart of the residents on grounds of ethnicity and religion which became the sole factor of residential choice’s decision. [18], reported that due to the conflicts and violence that sequentially engulfed the city, there was a continuous relocations of ethnic and religious groups to areas considered safe for them. In other words, the city has been polarized into Christian-Muslim neighborhoods with each religion dominated by a particular tribe making the whole arrangement a complex one. “Today, … voluntary and forced displacement have reshaped the city of Jos” [19]. The literature has also uncovered that the segregation has led to disproportionate appreciation and depreciation of land and landed properties in different parts of the city [19]. [2] however noted that though Jos had gone through series of urban crises which had influenced people’s attitude, behaviour and decision on where to reside in the city, not much studies had been conducted on housing and land market implications of the residential segregation compared to the breadth of research on the analysis of its socio-economic, cultural and political consequences.

The Hausa in one hand and the indigenes (Afizere, Anaguta and Berom) on the other, are the two main contending ethnic rivals in the recent Jos crises [20]. While the indigenes maintain the ground of being the ancestral inhabitants of the city’s land and the rightful decider of its affairs, the Hausas claim to have settled on a virgin land, stayed long in the present location of the city, contributed to its growth and development, hence have the right to its political affairs. Indeed, that they have no other states of origin. The Hausa also rely on their numerical dominance according to the 1930 census (Table 1), as an attestation to their claim of the modern city.

The splitting of Jos local government is yet another contributing factor to the crises. Jos had been the capital of the state since 1967 when Nigeria was made up of 12 states. The city however consisted of only one local government area until 1991. It was split into Jos north and Jos south with the dominance of each of the rival groups in each. That led to suspicion by the indigenous people who believed their rival lobbied for the division of the local government to take over their indigenous right [21]. Indigenship-citizenship dichotomy is another proximate cause of Jos crises and residential segregation [18]. The Nigerian constitution only officially recognizes citizenship but many policies seem to affirm indigenship despite the silence of the constitution about it. This reflects in such cases as university quota system and catchment area, federal character, scholarship schemes and the likes. In a like manner, the stoppage of the issuance of indigenship certificate which is the only document that guarantees rights to many opportunities in the state, to the Hausa-Fulani and other ‘settlers’ in most local governments across the state including Jos North and South, led to accumulated tension that culminated into the crises which ultimately gave the city its current segregated pattern.

Religious sensitivity equally plays its role in the discussion of the city’s experience of residential segregation. The dominance of Muslims among the Hausa residents and Christians among the indigenous group made it convenient for politicians to easily recruit tribal affiliates during the crises and easily polarize into different areas of the city. As noted by [4], this explains the reasons why religion has been expunched from the list of demographic data in the last two Nigeria censuses.

The political climate in Jos since the wake of suspision and mistrust remains a challenge and a prime factor of its current segregated status as well. Disagreement on who is eligible for elections and appointment into the helms of affairs in the federal offices, state ministries, local government, agencies and parastatals, as well as legislative offices, has continuously had its stake in the conflicts that eventually segregated the city. This is evident from the protest that welcome the appointment of an Hausa tribe as the co-ordinator of National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) for the state in 1991.

CONCLUSION

Tin mining plays a very important role in the growth, rich ethnic diversity and cosmopolitan status of Jos even though contributions of the favourable climate, tourism potentials, administrative functions, and ultra-modern market in the city, cannot as well be underrated. Jos was widely believed to be the most peaceful city within its geographical zone for more than two decades before the turn of the century when the initial rich ethnic diversity was marred with sequential urban violence from 2001 to 2010. This did not only result into ethno-religious residential segregation but large exodus of inhabitants of the city to adjoining settlements and neighbouring states. There were also cases of closing down of many business outlets, which resulted in some setback to its development.

Although the city is currently enjoying some level of relative peace but it requires the political will of government at various levels to respectively publicize and implement findings and recommendations of the investigation commissions set up by them at different times to forestall the resurgence of the violence.

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  18. Aliyu, A.A., Abdu, A.A., Kasim, R., and Martin, D. (2015). Residential segregation and existing neighbourhood patterns in Jos metropolis, Nigeria. Journal of Natural Science Research, 5(16), 12-21.
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  20. Ostien, P. (2009). Jonah Jang and the Jasawa. Muslim-Christians Relations in Africa, 1-42.
  21. Best, S.G. (2007). Conflict and peace building in Plateau state. Ibadan: Spectrum Books Limited.

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