The Migrant Factor in the Economic Growth of Suleja Town, 1979-2015

Abstract

The siting of the FCDA Field Base in Suleja in 1979 presented an excellent
opportunity forthe economic migrants, whoestablished new commercial
activitieshitherto unknown in Suleja. These commercial activities did
not only enable the economic migrants to advance their economic status,
italso contributed to the economic growth of Suleja.Therefore, the paper
argues that the siting of the FCDA Field Base was the single most
important factor for the influx of additional migrant groups and the
economic growth of Suleja. The various commercial activities established
by the migrant groups provided job opportunities for the youth and
increased the revenue base of Suleja. Thus, Suleja became the economic
nerve centre of the area and one of the towns generating the highest
IGR in Niger state. The paper shows the economic changes that occur in
Suleja by identifying the economic activities conducted in the pre and
post 1976 creation of the Federal Capital Territory. The paper identifies
the major migrant groups and discusses the various commercial activities
they established in Suleja. The paper concludes that the migrant groups
were the vanguard of change in Suleja as their economic activities
overshadowed those of the indigenous groups.