Access to Urban Land in Abuja and Minna: Challenges and way forward

Abstract

This study attempts to examine the challenges to land accessibility for urban development using some selected districts in Federal Capital City (FCC), Abuja and neighborhoods in Minna of Nigeria as case study areas. The primary method of data collection employed the distribution of questionnaires to individual land owners, property developers or plot allottees and people who do not own land. Chi - Square test and Likert Scale are statistical tools employed. Findings revealed that in FCC, 43% of the respondents own land while 57% do not own land. 66% of the land owners have developed their lands while 34% have not. In Minna, 61% of the respondents own land while 39% do not own land. About 67.8% of the land owners have developed their lands while 32.2 % of the land owners are yet to develop their lands. In FCC, lack of funds and potable water are the reasons why land owners are yet to develop their lands while inadequate funds is the major reason why respondents did not own lands. In Minna, lack of fund, electricity, access to land and shanty structures around undeveloped plots are the reasons why land owners are yet to develop their lands while inadequate funds and lack of interest are the major reasons why respondents do not own land. The study revealed that there is a significant relationship between the level of income of respondents and land ownership in FCC and Minna. The paper suggests among others that government should ensure payment of appropriate minimum wages, reduction to minimum of various fees paid on allocation and perfection of land titles as well as ensuring safety of lives and properties of the people with the view to accelerating urban development within the study areas.