FUTA Professor Calls for Urgent Land Reform to Address Scarcity and Governance Gaps

Despite Nigeria’s vast landmass of over 900,000 square kilometres, access to land is increasingly limited due to poor governance, insecure tenure, weak institutions, and inequitable distribution, according to Professor Bamidele Ogunleye of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).

He delivered these insights during FUTA’s 185th Inaugural Lecture on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, titled “Land: Abundant Yet Scarce” at the Obafemi Awolowo Auditorium.

Professor Ogunleye described land as the “bedrock of every modern economy,” essential for agriculture, housing, commerce, and infrastructure. Yet in Nigeria, he noted, it has become a source of exclusion, conflict, and inefficiency. He identified overlapping statutory and customary systems, speculative markets, compulsory acquisitions without fair compensation, and socio-cultural restrictions—particularly against women and youth—as key drivers of the crisis. He also warned that farmlands are rapidly being converted into residential and industrial estates, threatening food security amid a projected urban population exceeding 56 percent by 2035.

Highlighting his research on residential land trends in Akure, Professor Ogunleye noted a consistent rise in land value over 15 years, particularly in low-density areas, reflecting both wealth creation potential and risks of speculation. Beyond economics, he emphasized land’s cultural, spiritual, and communal significance, asserting that viewing land as a shared trust imposes a moral obligation to ensure sustainability.

To tackle functional land scarcity, he proposed urgent reforms, including:

• Transparent and affordable land titling systems
• Harmonization of statutory and customary tenure
• Modernization and decentralization of land administration using GIS, blockchain, and mobile mapping
• Inclusive, gender-sensitive land-use planning
• Fair compensation for displaced communities
• Integration of climate adaptation, food security, and urban safety in policy frameworks
• Promotion of cooperative housing, youth entrepreneurship, and equitable taxation in land ventures

He also recommended the establishment of a national land observatory to collect real-time data on land use, availability, and disputes, improving transparency, planning, and conflict resolution. Engaging government authorities, traditional leaders, civil society, and private stakeholders, he stressed, is critical for inclusive and sustainable land management.

FUTA Vice-Chancellor Professor Adenike Oladiji lauded Professor Ogunleye’s scholarship and practical solutions, urging governments, policymakers, and development partners to adopt his recommendations. She also encouraged students and researchers to champion responsible land management, emphasizing FUTA’s commitment to producing knowledge and innovations that address societal challenges and strengthen Nigeria’s global competitiveness.