An Economic History of Zaria Province

This study is the outcome of a research work submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of M.A degree in History by the Department of History, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 2012. The book is a critical study of colonial economy of Zaria Province under colonial domination with particular reference to Ikara District. The book identifies and examines the policies introduced by the colonial state aimed at distortion and destruction of the indigenous economy.This book argued and demonstrated that this was done by imposing colonial policies on land, labour, production, transport and taxation. These policies had the effect of forcing peasants to engage in export cash crop production in order to meet the need of the colonial state. However, the introduction of these policies and development of export cash crop production completely changed the nature of the pre-colonial economy from independent to dependent economy which subsequently resulted in total and complete distortion of indigenous cottage industries. The book should be of great interest to all those who want to understand the nature, operation and structures of colonial economy in Nigeria.