Land Administration In Urhobo Division Under Colonial Rule 1935 – 1960

By Emudiaga Onoriode Ebbah

This thesis is base on the process of land use, control and land acquisition in Urhobo Division. It looks at the history of land from 1935 when the Division was created and terminated at 1960 which symbolized a new era in Nigeria History. Studies were carried out on the social, political and economic activities before 1935, it was done to correct various misconception held by people who still believe that land was always owned by the family. This study has shown that land administration in Urhobo Division has been changing with its socio-political and economic development.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781365171420

Book preview

Land Administration In Urhobo Division Under Colonial Rule 1935 – 1960

Land Administration in Urhobo Division under Colonial Rule 1935 – 1960

By

Emudiaga  Ebbah

Department Of History

Faculty of Art

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Supervisors:

Prof. Gwadabe, M.M.

Prof. Sani, U.M.

March 2016

Land Administration in Urhobo Division under Colonial rule, 1935 – 1960

By

Emudiaga  Ebbah

MA History

Ma/23368/2012/2013

A Project/Thesis/Dissertation Submitted to the School of Postgraduate Studies, Ahmadu Bello University in Partial Fulfillment for the Award of Masters in History

Department Of History

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Supervisors:

Prof. Gwadabe, M.M.

Prof. Sani, U.M.

March 2016

Declaration

I declare that the work in this project/thesis/dissertation entitled Land Administration in Urhobo Division under Colonial Rule 1935 – 1960 has been carried out by me in the Department of History.  The information derived from the literature has project report/thesis/dissertation was not previously presented for another degree or diploma at this or any other institution.

____________________________________________

Emudiaga EbbahDate

Certification

This project report/thesis/dissertation entitled LAND ADMINISTRATION IN URHOBO DIVISION UNDER COLONIAL RULE 1935 – 1960 by Emudiaga Onoriode Ebbah meets the regulation governing the award of the degree of Masters in History of Ahmadu Bello University and is approved for its contribution of knowledge of literary presentation.

_____________________________________________

Chairman, Supervisory CommitteeDate

________________________________________________

Member, Supervisory CommitteeDate

_________________________________________________

Member, Supervisory CommitteeDate

_________________________________________________

Head of DepartmentDate

________________________________________________

Dean, School of Postgraduate StudiesDate

Acknowledgement

I hereby acknowledge my supervisor professor Gwadabe, M. M. for his contributions to the thesis.  His corrections and input has been very useful to this work.  I want to also use this opportunity to thank my second supervisor Professor Umar, S.U. for taking his time to read the thesis.

I thank my brother Emokinovo and Onovwakpome Eguono Ebbah for their assistance.  My thanks also go to Mr. Joseph Ejemare and my father Mr. Ruke Ebbah for reading the work and making their suggestions.  I also use this opportunity to thank those whose books/works has been used for this thesis.  Above all I thank the almighty God for his blessing.

Dedication

This Thesis is dedicated to Nancy Duja Ebbah, all the Staffs of Northern Historical Research Scheme (NHRS) and students and lecturers Department of History Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

Abstract

This thesis is base on the process of land use, control and land acquisition in Urhobo Division. It looks at the history of land from 1935 when the Division was created and terminated at 1960 which symbolized a new era in Nigeria History. Studies were carried out on the social, political and economic activities before 1935, it was done to correct various misconception held by people who still believe that land was always owned by the family. This study has shown that land administration in Urhobo Division has been changing with its socio-political and economic development. In the pre-colonial era when land was under the control of elders / Urhobo Traditional institutions, land was owned and used by the family/ community,  it could not be sold as it was an ancestral property. Users only had right to use land as permanent corps like palm trees were owned by the community.  The economy was subsistence one and where food crops were planted. With the conquest and domination of Urhobo Division,  followed by the introduction of colonial education, taxation, health policies etc. the use of land , its regulation and acquisition changed, cash crops were introduced. Land however developed into a state property in 1960 when Nigeria became independent. 

Table of Contents

Declaration

Certification

Acknowledgement

Dedication

Abstract

Table Of Contents

Chapter One

Introduction

Statement Of Problem

Justification Of Study

The Scope Of The Study

Research Methodology

Theoritical Framwork

Aims And Objectives

Literature Review

Conclusion

Chapter Two

2.1    Introduction

2.2The  Geography Of The Area

The Peopling And Tradition Of Origin Of The Urhobo

(2.3)  Urhoboland Before Colonial Conquest

(2.4)      Land Administration On The Eve Of Colonial Rule

Chapter Three

(3.1)    Introduction

(3.2)  The Rationale For The Conquest Of Urhoboland

(3.3) Nature Of Colonialism

(3.4) The Conquest Of Urhoboland

(3.5)   Evolution Of Urhobo Division

Colonial Land Policy In Southern Nigeria

Chapter Four

4.1 Effect Of British Colonial Policy On Land In Urhobo Division

4.2Mode Of Acquisition Of Land In Colonial Period

4.3The Value Of Land

The Failure Of Colonial Lease System

4.6 Land Tenure Under Colonial Rule

Chapter Five

5.1Introduction

General Conclusion

Bibliography

Maps

Chapter One

Introduction

This proposal is a study of the land administration in Urhobo Division. It involves the administrative pattern and the mode of acquiring land in Urhobo Division from 1935 – 1960.

Land is the external part of the top soil, the mineral resources within; which includes the Flora and Fauna. Before colonial rule, land in Urhobo land was an ancestral property. It could not be sold as it was believed to be the home of the earth spirit and the soul of the ancestors[1]. Land brought among the Urhobo clans a sense of self respect, confidence and unity. It was used for burying the dead, for building town halls (Ogua or oro), market squares and for the purpose of re-creations like wrestling, storytelling and for outdoor games. The Urhobo people depended on land for survival. Each member of the respective community cultivated a piece, after the oldest man has divided them into plots. In Iyede for example, farming was done along the respective quarters. Farming activities were regulated to control the degree of fertility[2]; when farming was closed in one quarter strangers from the close quarter were allowed to farm in quarters that were still open but the use of palm nut of the community by strangers was strictly prohibited     as palm nut was a commodity which was collectively owned. The same can be said of fish ponds .It was only available for use when it was opened by the Ovie (king) and his council.

The mode of transfer of land was by inheritance, gifts, pledges and individuals going into the forest to clear. There has been a gradual attenuation of the force of tradition in land tenure system of the Urhobo settlements. These changes were gradual as land was evolving towards individual ownership. This was made possible by continuous inheritance which led to redistribution of land. It was at this stage that the colonial state came to transform the area.  

In the last quarter of the 19th century, Britain and other European powers scrambled and invaded for territories in Africa in such a bold manner that has no precedence in world history. The British colonization of Urhobo settlement in particular was one of the significant historical events which have changed the economy of land. The question that now arises is why did it occur? A number of reasons have been given for the rationale behind the colonial conquest and occupation of Urhobo land. The major interest in Urhobo settlement arose as a result of the abundant palm produce. Captain Gallway in October made a survey of the Urhobo oil market along the River Ethiope with the view of establishing a colonial constabulary post[3]. The British needed raw materials like palm oil and groundnut to help them run their machines and produce finished products for oversea markets.

The introduction of colonial rule changed the mode of administration, ownership and control of land. For the sake of administration land was divided into native land, crown land and public land. Native land was the land controlled by the local government; which consists of the warrant chiefs, clerks and messengers. The native land acquisition was promulgated to serve the native and non native alike. On the other hand crown land was the land which government laid claim to by lease while public land was land owned by government, taken and used for building railway and roads. The above adjustments led to commoditization of land. This period was characterized by the production of cash crops. Taxes were imposed and this forced the people to plant rubber and produce palm trees so as to earn money. The development of various land ordinances like the Native Land Acquisition Proclamation (1902), the Crown Land Management (1906) and Native Ordinance were some of the structures which preceded the Land Use Act of 1978, a post colonial land law which offered new mechanisms for development.            

Statement of Problem

Before colonial rule, land was an ancestral property. This was the order of things. The people tilled the soil and used all available resources inherent in it. To the Urhobos, land was a source of unity, confidence and self respect. Land was regulated by the clan elders and the Ovie for the purpose of orderliness. Land was in abundance and sufficient for use. This was because elders divided land to family members on annual bases. The senior takes the first choice and the others wait for their turn. In this society land disputes were solved  briskly as available plots claimed from nature was well known by the elders. All Elders (Okpako) met in the house of the most senior man to constitute a regulation on palm produce. One Olotu was selected in every quarter of a clan. His work was to protect palm trees in the village. An offence of trespass on land was tried   and the guilty person was fined. This system of administration ensured that land and its resources are in abundance for the use of every citizen.

The arrival of the colonialist changed the order of things; they introduceda new system of indirect rule. Administration by indirect rule as theorized by Mahmood Mamdani   rested on the Chief, the nature of the land, the native court and the state. Mamdani showed that the Chiefs were vested with control over land which reinforced their power over the people who