Malam Madori

Malam Madori is a Local Government Area in the north of Jigawa State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Malam Maduri.

It has an area of 766 km² and a population of 161,413 at the 2006 census.

ABSTRACT One prominent person called Malam Madu, founded Mallam-Madori around 1930. The Kano-Nguru railway line passes trough Mallam-Madori, and brought about so many economic impact to the people of Mallam-Madori Local Government. It brings changes economically, socially, politically, culturally and even religiously & otherwise. The changes make Mallam-Madori to become so prominent and a commercial centre in Hadejia Emirate during the period of 1930 to date.

Malam Madu being the founder of the settlement, among others moved his village to the site of railway station. People also migrated from Dakido, Talaku, Dunari and Hadejia. These families united and found Mallam-Madori town. The presence of railway line in Mallam-Madori improved the commercial activities in the area. There were also banks around to assist customers in the exchange of currencies and transportation services.

It is very interesting to know the importance of railway lines, more especially in the areas of socio-economic development of Mallam-Madori Local Government Area cannot be over emphasized. This is because, the presence of railway line from Kano to Nguru, which passes through Mallam-Madori brought about some recordable changes politically, socially as well as the economic development of the area (Mallam-Madori). However the passengers, and their bulky goods, and materials used to come from different parts of the world, into the market within a shortest period of time, and in cheaper prices when compared to road transportation. It has also linked different areas of production of export goods, such as Groundnut, which was considered as the major export of Mallam-Madori to other places like Kano. This system resulted in production of varieties of crops. It also linked up some important villages to develop as a whole. The presence of railway line in Mallam-Madori serves as an opportunity to the people, to develop immensely in socio-economic areas, because not all places were having railway lines Railway line has developed Mallam-Madori commercially and socially, and brought a lot people from the West such as Yorubas with kolanuts and exchange in second clothes from Eastern part and took commodities to East. Also Arabs came from Yemen and other Arabian countries. People traveled peacefully and the resultant factors towards the development of rail road is the elimination of death rate, because rail road is so far an accident free compared to the road transport in Nigeria. The presence of railway line in Mallam-Madori increased the population of the area. The present Mallam-Madori was a by-product of railway line. Further more, the present Mallam-Madori town weekly market, in which people from all part convey their farm product to sell and exchange, for other essential commodities as stated earlier located at Talaku (A village 2 km north of Mallam-Madori). But with the advent of railway, the market was agreed to be shifted to Mallam-Madori in 1930. However, these commercial market and groundnut production attracted many businessmen in to transfer or convey their products to the area they needed. This resulted in employing many native people of Mallam-Madori in order to help them carry out their business successfully. These investors included: • A.G Leventies • John Holts • O.A.U • G.B. Olivents • C.F.O Source: Michael (1993) Further more, before the advent of the railway line to Mallam-Madori, people in the area used Animals to convey groundnut to Kano. This development marked the beginning of groundnut pyramids in Mallam-Madori town, which was located much closed to the railway station, and rail line is linked to it. Thus Mallam-Madori was among the few areas in Kano groundnut pyramids that are used to carry goods easily, which is another impact of railway line towards the economic development of Mallam-Madori Local Government Area. The presence of railway line helped the small scale/local industries, like groundnut oil production, which initiated for the provision of groundnut grinding machines in 1955-1957. Each of the machine cost fifteen (15) pounds and they were given to the people of Mallam-Madori at low prices. They were recommended to pay 180 pound each. Source: Kano State Groundnut Board. Moreover, the impact of railway line did not stop on the part of economic development; rather there are social and political benefits. Socially we have seen how railway line brought about the advent of railway lines. However they encouraged people like Yorubas, Igbos, Fulanis, Kanuris, Hausas and Arabs, etc. which resulted in cultural changes eventually, inter-marriages between the original inhabitants of Mallam-Madori i.e. Kanuri. Interestingly, the present name Mallam-Madori was conceived as a result of railway line in Mallam-Madori as many farm settlers living close were attracted to the site of construction. Mallam-Madori with his people, Dakido village, Talaku and Hadejia united and found Mallam-Madori. Source: Madaki Gauyama senior councilor, Hadejia emirate council. Politically, the construction of railway line in Mallam-Madori town resulted in transferring the District-Head of Dakido to Mallam-Madori. The first District –Head Malam Tafida Ussaini, who was residing at Dakido, was later advised to move to Mallam-Madori permanently. Finally, the impact of railway line in Mallam-Madori could not be clearly expressed due to time and financial problems. The rail road brought many changes in areas of political, social and economical development of the area. we have seen the transfer of Talaku market to Mallam-Madori from 1930 up to date, the people of Mallam-Madori were benefiting with such innovation. Welfare of the people increased, farmers are assured of transporting farm products to Kano at very low cost. These enable farmers to produce more farm products.

The postal code of the area is 730.^[1]

References