ABSTRACT

This study interrogates the transformation of Karu town in Nasarawa State between 1991 and 2015, tracing its shift from a rural agrarian settlement into a satellite community of Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory. Using a political economy framework, it examines how migration, governance, and market forces shaped Karu’s socio-spatial development. Evidence from archival records, oral testimonies, and field surveys indicates that Abuja’s relocation acted as a catalyst for Karu’s expansion, while limited access to affordable land, the rising cost of residential and business premises, and inadequate housing provision within the Federal Capital Territory created strong pressures for settlement in Karu. The study concludes by situating Karu’s experience within broader patterns of Nigerian urbanisation, underscoring the tensions between rapid expansion and uneven social outcomes. Keywords: