Exploring Community-Based Facilities Management Principle Towards a Sustainable Urban Land Management in Minna

Abstract

There are challenges with urban land management in many emerging economies of Africa. In Nigeria, one of such challenges is the existence of both customary and statutory interests in urban land. The Land Use Decree No 6 of 1978, currently known as Chap L5 LFN 2004, which empowers a state governor to acquire customary interest for overriding public interest, is faced with many challenges. Preliminary discussion from interaction with land officer at the Niger State Geographic Information System revealed that over 10% of state government layouts are currently being challenged by the natives in various courts across the state. The litigations revolve around issues of inadequate assessment index, inadequate compensation, protracted litigations arising from compensation assessments, all of which have contributed to unsustainable development of many urban lands. For holders of customary interest, there is the issue of development that lacks clear objective with regards to known planning principles, leading to slums, poor housing conditions, poor sanitation issues, incompatible urban land uses, poor property value, low environmental quality, and inability to have public utilities and social infrastructures amongst others in various communities. This study proposes a new paradigm that integrates both customary and statutory interest through community-based facilities management (CbFM) strategy to solve the urban land management problems. The study adopts a critical literature review of the core principles of community-based facilities management which include: service management, social inclusion, strategic development, economic longevity and environmental sustainability. The core values of these principles are recommended to enhance sustainable land management that will help in resolving the many challenges of urban land administration in Minna. It is intended that these principles be further tested with a range of case studies in Minna.