Land Market Challenges: The Case of Ifo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria
S.A. Oloyede, C.A. Ayedun, A.S. Oni, A.O. Oluwatobi

Abstract
Bearing in mind that land acquisition is very crucial to human development from ages past, the study examined private land acquisition processes and challenges encountered by individuals in Ado-odo/Ota Local government area of Ogun State. Using purposive sampling method, the study gathered relevant data from four different community leaders as well as four heads of family land owners with the aid of questionnaires and employed indepth interviews to solicit information from eight different youth leaders from the four selected communities. Four each of local artisans (bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers and electricians) available on sites under construction between March and May, 2014 were interviewed on their experiences within the selected neighbourhoods. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics while percentages and ranking were employed in analysis. Data presentation was basically in tables. The study found that because past governments had failed to take into account the needs and interests of individual, family or community land owners during earlier compulsory land acquisition processes, family land owners are in a hurry to sell off their land even when existing developments are far away. The study recommends that government needs to be proactive in designing new neighbourhood layouts to forestall large informal settlements and, at the same time, implement new methods of financing infrastructure to support urban land development. Finally, government needs to create a friendlier mortgage finance system that will make it possible for low-income households to acquire shelter or land at affordable prices.

Full Text: PDF