DEVELOPMENT OF ABUJA AS FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY: THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL CHANGE.

Nigeria decided to transfer her capital from Lagos jo Abuja in order to solve the problems associated with Lagos as federal capital such as lack of security, accommodation, and traffic congestion among others. Abuja was recommended as the new capital-to solve these problems and to meet the challenges of modem times; It is against this background that (his paper examined the development of Abuja and *the effects of social change in the federal capital territory. The method applied is historical, using content analyses from secondary materials. The purpose of relocating the federal capita! to Abuja as a result of mass dissatisfaction with Lagos especially as dual capital of Lagos State and Nigeria. Lagos was over-burdened with daily traffic congestion, sprawling slums, over population, inadequate supply of piped water, electricity and housing. (African Concord, 30th December 1986 P.7) Lagos also had the disadvantage of periphery location. Abuja was chosen as federal capital and became the hope of the nation. It was seen as the symbol of unity. The well being of people can be identified empirically by observing how they stand on a range of relevant conditions. (Afonja and Pearce: 1986:14). Such conditions, according to Amdi should include good houses for the high and low-income earners because every individual is entitled to live in a habitable environment irrespective of class or status in the society. (Amdii: 1993:253). In addition, availability of good transportation system with participation from government and private sectors is important. As at now, government participation is very low giving chance to commercial vehicle operators to charge exorbitant fares. The abovementioned problems arc as a result of mass movement to Abuja from public and private sectors. However, this is not unexpected if one considers the analysis of a city by the Time magazine of USA of November, 1997 that: Like planets, cities have gravity. The bigger they arc, the more powerful the pull. Sizes create opportunities and that is why cities attract so many dreamers, leaders, luminaries and ordinary job seekers... Cities remain as always, the hubs of our civilization - magnified, intensified versions of both the good and the bad in the way of life (Time Magazine, Special Edition. November, 1997). However, in spite of careful consideration of the Abuja master plan, there arc still some social problems, which are as a result of changes from development. For example, the projected population of Abuja in the master plan after the completion of all the four phases of its development is 3.1 million inhabitants. This estimate can be regarded as conservative considering the present population of Abuja. The consequences of these social changes arc what this paper examined and make recommendations.