Problems of Land Tenure System in Nigeria
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Firstly, what does the term, land tenure system mean?
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Land tenure is an institution with rules invented by societal norms or
government laws in order to define access, allocation, use, and
control of the land. Land tenure is used to regulate behaviour and
relationships with respect to land. Land tenure systems are important
because they determine who can use what particular land, duration to
be used, and under what conditions.
In Nigeria, there are various land tenure systems in operation in
different places. The land tenure system in Nigeria is used to
regulate land ownership and usage behaviour in the country. Below are
the various forms of land tenure systems in Nigeria, they are:
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Communal Ownership
Inheritance Tenure System
Leasehold Tenure System
Rent Tenure System
Gift Tenure System
Freehold Tenure System
Tenant at Government will
You might be wondering the importance of land tenure systems. Land
tenure systems are important for the following reasons:Land tenure
system helps to foster economic growth through activities such as
farming, sales, investment, etc.
Land tenure systems determine the security of land rights and ownership.
Land tenure system also determines the inclusion of vulnerable groups
of people in the society such as women and low-income earners and
their right to own or inherit the land.
Land tenure systems also reduce conflict: This is because when land
rights are not secure by law, it could lead to conflict, war, and
instability.
Problems of Land tenure systems in Nigeria
Communal Ownership
The indigenous land tenure system operating in Nigeria is communal
ownership. This means that anyone can have access to the land as long
as they are members of the community by birth. Under the communal
ownership tenure system, rights to natural resources such as land,
plants, animals, and water are also commonly owned.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
The effect of communal ownership of land is that everyone is able to
have access to, exploit and manage all other resources that have to do
with land such as hunting of animals, collection of firewood,
harvesting of fruits, farming of livestock, etc. The community also
has the right to allocate land to individuals for the purpose of
individual or household farming. There is a common group interest that
composes of family and the entire village. Under communal ownership,
the power to control of land is given to a council of chiefs or elders
who hold the land in trust for all members of the community. One of
the advantages of communal ownership is the sustained conservation of
natural resources. This is because natural resources are used for
different purposes such as traditional health care delivery, food
source, and even as a means of livelihood for many households. Most
communities also have traditional rules, regulations, and taboos which
helps to conserve natural resources. Such an example is the
reservation of forest for shrines or those regarded as evil and
forbidden bushes. However, the world has become more secularized and
these traditional rules and taboos have eroded or evolved with time.
There is also the inability to enforce these traditional rules above
state laws. Thus, these traditional methods, although suitable for
conservation of resources cannot meet with modern requirements.
Inheritance Tenure System
Another land tenure system is the Inheritance Tenure system where
people own lands individually via inheritance. This tenure system is
encouraged by the commercialization of agricultural products such as
cash crops, cocoa, rubber, etc. With the inheritance tenure system,
people have strong ownership of land and dominant user rights.
An advantage of the Inheritance Tenure system is that landowners have
full control of land which encourages crop farming and production.
Disadvantages of the Inheritance Tenure system
Misuse and Abuse of land: This is because no other party has any
influence over the control and use of land. The misuse and abuse of
land can lead to other problems such as erosion and general
degradation of the soil which then affects farming and economic
activities.
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Inequality: The individual land tenure system also allows for unequal
access to land. The individual land tenure system has led to the
concentration of land in the hands of just a wealthy few and then
depriving others of ownership opportunities.
Rendering farmers landless: The individual tenure system makes farmers
not have land because they have no access to the land via sale or
inheritance. Farmers are then forced to migrate to areas where
farmlands are relatively abundant and leave an area of the country
lacking in farming activities.
Leasehold Tenure System
The leasehold tenure system allows a person to own a land temporarily.
Under the Leasehold tenure system, the temporal owner is called a
tenant while the principal owner is called the Landlord. An advantage
of the Leasehold Tenure system is that it encourages farming
activities such as crop cultivation (depending on the duration of the
lease)
A disadvantage of the Leasehold Tenure system is that land leased
cannot be used as security for loans.
Gift Tenure System
The gift tenure system as the name implies means the voluntary
transfer of land ownership rights from one person to the other. Land
under this tenure system can be used as collateral to get a loan.
Also, the new landowner enjoys the full benefits of land use. The
downside to this tenure system however is that land ownership can be
revoked by a court order.
Rent Tenure System
The rent tenure system is quite similar to the leasehold tenure system
with a difference only in the duration of time with which the tenant
is allowed to use the land. While a lease period could go on for many
years, land rent is usually shorter. The owner has the land-only
temporarily. The rent tenure system does not encourage long term
planning.
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Freehold Tenure System
Under the freehold tenure system, an individual or a group buys the
right of ownership to land. Although buying land under this tenure can
be expensive, the land can however be used to secure loans.
Tenants at Government Will
This tenure system is the government that gives a portion of land to
an individual or a community. Under this tenure system, the individual
or community has full usage of the land, however, the land cannot be
used as collateral for the loan.
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Firstly, what does the term, land tenure system mean?
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Land tenure is an institution with rules invented by societal norms or
government laws in order to define access, allocation, use, and
control of the land. Land tenure is used to regulate behaviour and
relationships with respect to land. Land tenure systems are important
because they determine who can use what particular land, duration to
be used, and under what conditions.
In Nigeria, there are various land tenure systems in operation in
different places. The land tenure system in Nigeria is used to
regulate land ownership and usage behaviour in the country. Below are
the various forms of land tenure systems in Nigeria, they are:
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Communal Ownership
Inheritance Tenure System
Leasehold Tenure System
Rent Tenure System
Gift Tenure System
Freehold Tenure System
Tenant at Government will
You might be wondering the importance of land tenure systems. Land
tenure systems are important for the following reasons:Land tenure
system helps to foster economic growth through activities such as
farming, sales, investment, etc.
Land tenure systems determine the security of land rights and ownership.
Land tenure system also determines the inclusion of vulnerable groups
of people in the society such as women and low-income earners and
their right to own or inherit the land.
Land tenure systems also reduce conflict: This is because when land
rights are not secure by law, it could lead to conflict, war, and
instability.
Problems of Land tenure systems in Nigeria
Communal Ownership
The indigenous land tenure system operating in Nigeria is communal
ownership. This means that anyone can have access to the land as long
as they are members of the community by birth. Under the communal
ownership tenure system, rights to natural resources such as land,
plants, animals, and water are also commonly owned.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
The effect of communal ownership of land is that everyone is able to
have access to, exploit and manage all other resources that have to do
with land such as hunting of animals, collection of firewood,
harvesting of fruits, farming of livestock, etc. The community also
has the right to allocate land to individuals for the purpose of
individual or household farming. There is a common group interest that
composes of family and the entire village. Under communal ownership,
the power to control of land is given to a council of chiefs or elders
who hold the land in trust for all members of the community. One of
the advantages of communal ownership is the sustained conservation of
natural resources. This is because natural resources are used for
different purposes such as traditional health care delivery, food
source, and even as a means of livelihood for many households. Most
communities also have traditional rules, regulations, and taboos which
helps to conserve natural resources. Such an example is the
reservation of forest for shrines or those regarded as evil and
forbidden bushes. However, the world has become more secularized and
these traditional rules and taboos have eroded or evolved with time.
There is also the inability to enforce these traditional rules above
state laws. Thus, these traditional methods, although suitable for
conservation of resources cannot meet with modern requirements.
Inheritance Tenure System
Another land tenure system is the Inheritance Tenure system where
people own lands individually via inheritance. This tenure system is
encouraged by the commercialization of agricultural products such as
cash crops, cocoa, rubber, etc. With the inheritance tenure system,
people have strong ownership of land and dominant user rights.
An advantage of the Inheritance Tenure system is that landowners have
full control of land which encourages crop farming and production.
Disadvantages of the Inheritance Tenure system
Misuse and Abuse of land: This is because no other party has any
influence over the control and use of land. The misuse and abuse of
land can lead to other problems such as erosion and general
degradation of the soil which then affects farming and economic
activities.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Inequality: The individual land tenure system also allows for unequal
access to land. The individual land tenure system has led to the
concentration of land in the hands of just a wealthy few and then
depriving others of ownership opportunities.
Rendering farmers landless: The individual tenure system makes farmers
not have land because they have no access to the land via sale or
inheritance. Farmers are then forced to migrate to areas where
farmlands are relatively abundant and leave an area of the country
lacking in farming activities.
Leasehold Tenure System
The leasehold tenure system allows a person to own a land temporarily.
Under the Leasehold tenure system, the temporal owner is called a
tenant while the principal owner is called the Landlord. An advantage
of the Leasehold Tenure system is that it encourages farming
activities such as crop cultivation (depending on the duration of the
lease)
A disadvantage of the Leasehold Tenure system is that land leased
cannot be used as security for loans.
Gift Tenure System
The gift tenure system as the name implies means the voluntary
transfer of land ownership rights from one person to the other. Land
under this tenure system can be used as collateral to get a loan.
Also, the new landowner enjoys the full benefits of land use. The
downside to this tenure system however is that land ownership can be
revoked by a court order.
Rent Tenure System
The rent tenure system is quite similar to the leasehold tenure system
with a difference only in the duration of time with which the tenant
is allowed to use the land. While a lease period could go on for many
years, land rent is usually shorter. The owner has the land-only
temporarily. The rent tenure system does not encourage long term
planning.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Freehold Tenure System
Under the freehold tenure system, an individual or a group buys the
right of ownership to land. Although buying land under this tenure can
be expensive, the land can however be used to secure loans.
Tenants at Government Will
This tenure system is the government that gives a portion of land to
an individual or a community. Under this tenure system, the individual
or community has full usage of the land, however, the land cannot be
used as collateral for the loan.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
jQuery(document).ready(function( $) { $.post(
'https://nigerianfinder.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php', {action:
'mts_view_count', id: '290931'}); });
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