Taking charge of physical development

This is to draw attention to the lack of planning concept adherence in our local councils in Northern Nigeria. The issue of conversion of urban farmlands located in fringes of our cities into individual plots by landowners has become worrisome. This negative trend in the administration of land, particularly in local governments and especially in […]

This is to draw attention to the lack of planning concept adherence in our local councils in Northern Nigeria.

The issue of conversion of urban farmlands located in fringes of our cities into individual plots by landowners has become worrisome.

This negative trend in the administration of land, particularly in local governments and especially in Northern Nigeria where farmers with land that are contiguous to cities will collaborate with local government officials in various land departments to come and delineate their land and convert them into individual plots for use.

And due to the inability of local governments to pay compensation for compulsorily acquired lands and provide a standard layout, with the required infrastructures needed for neighbourhood development, they have abandoned such responsibilities in the hands of the individual land holders.

Thus, whatever layout arising from such connivance usually affects the physical development of such neighbourhoods. Particularly in the provision of basic infrastructure such as roads, drainages, worship centre, schools and other commercial and institutional land uses that would ordinarily complement the uses they are meant for.

Therefore, the landholders in many local governments in the North are out to maximize profit from their lands, while our local governments turn a blind eye, shift or even relinquish the responsibilities to ensure physical development is being controlled by them through their land officials.

Some works departments or land departments in many local government authorities (LGAs) sometimes conduct documentation but this and other advantages to the landholder far outweigh whatever benefits government ought to derive from such transactions.

Professional institutions lack the legal teeth and muscle so zonal town planning officers and other professionals who are government representatives should therefore desist from such corruption-driven transactions with land holders especially in rural area of the North.

Our local governments and indeed state governments should take charge by rising up to face this challenge facing physical development, which unfortunately is not the priority of elected local representatives; maybe because of the long-term nature of property development.

I believe we shouldn’t neglect this issue. If we address this problem it will help check health hazards and further sanitize and provide conducive environment for us all to live in.

 

 Abubakar Abdulkadir is an Abuja-based estate surveyor and valuer