ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF INFORMAL URBAN EXPANSION: AKURE'S INFORMAL LAND DELIVERY

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8239498

Authors

  • De Grandis Department of Environmental Resource Management, Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus, Brandenburg, Germany
  • Wilson Department of Environmental Resource Management, Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus, Brandenburg, Germany

Keywords:

informal land acquisition, urbanization, land administration, environmental challenges

Abstract

In many developing cities, the acquisition of urban land occurs through either formal or informal means. While the informal sector offers a significant portion of land, its complex mechanisms often elude documentation and understanding, often leading to their oversight in developed nations. This study investigates the multifaceted dimensions of informality, spanning social, economic, spatial, and environmental aspects, encompassing neighborhoods, settlements, markets, employment, and business activities. Focusing on Akure, Nigeria, where a substantial proportion of urban households reside in informal settlements due to exclusion from formal land management systems, this research underscores the prevalence of informal land acquisition, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions. Past and present development patterns within Akure are intrinsically linked to land administration laws. Customary laws historically guided land administration, granting equal access rights while designating a family head or community chief as the trustee. The 1978 Land Use Act subsequently vested land in Nigerian governors, who grant access through a 'right of occupancy'. However, this transition has generated controversies, especially in urban areas with high urbanization rates, such as Akure. The city's role as an agricultural trade hub amplifies pressure on land resources due to rural-urban migration trends. This paper focuses on the environmental challenges stemming from informal land acquisition, using Akure as a case study. Informal land acquisition primarily occurs among rural immigrants seeking land for subsistence. The stringent formal housing acquisition process further perpetuates informal land acquisition. Consequently, unplanned and uncontrolled developments arise, lacking essential infrastructural facilities that are crucial for healthy living. Through an analysis of the Akure case, this study unravels the intricate nexus between informal land delivery and environmental challenges in Nigeria. By shedding light on this complex interplay, it aims to provide insights for policymakers and urban planners to address the environmental consequences of informal land acquisition, thereby fostering sustainable urban development.

Published

2023-08-11

How to Cite

De Grandis, D. G. G., & Wilson, W. J. (2023). ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF INFORMAL URBAN EXPANSION: AKURE’S INFORMAL LAND DELIVERY. SADI International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology (SIJSET), 10(3), 41–51. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8239498

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 3 (2023): July-Sept. 2023

Section

Original Peer Review Articles
Copyright & Licensing

Copyright (c) 2023 SADI International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology (SIJSET)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

References

Adedayo, A. M. (2018). Evaluation of factors influencing access to residential land in Lokoja Metropolis, Kogi State, Nigeria. FUTY Journal of the Environment, 12(1), pp. 1-10.

Amao, F. L. (2012). Housing quality in informal settlements and urban upgrading in Ibadan, Nigeria [A case study of Apete in Ibadan]. Developing Country Studies, 2(10), pp. 68-80.

Barton, H., Thompson, S., Burgess, S., and Grant, M. (Eds.). (2015). The Routledge handbook of planning for health and wellbeing: Shaping a sustainable and healthy future. United Kingdom: Routledge.

Changeh, J. G. (2016). Socio-Economic Determinants Of The Implementation Of Urban Slum Infrastructure Projects In Kenya: A Case Of The Kibera Slum-Upgrading Project, Langata Constituency, Nairobi County (Doctoral dissertation, University Of Nairobi).

Durand-Lasserve, A., and Selod, H. (2009). The formalization of urban land tenure in developing countries. In Urban land markets (pp. 101-132). Springer, Dordrecht.

Ige, V. O., and Gbadegesin, J. T. (2021). Choosing informal ways to acquire land. Property Management.

Israel, G. (2002). Determining Sample Size Using A Sample Size Of A Similar Study. University of Florida: The Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (IFAS).

Kuma, S. S. (2018). Land policy and land delivery system in Nigeria. Emerging Issues in Urban Land Use and Development, (December 2017), pp. 1-24.

Ogunleye, B. M. (2013). Analysis of the socio-economic characteristics and housing condition in the core neighbourhood of Akure, Nigeria. Journal of Geography and Regional Planning, 6(6), pp. 229-236.

Olusola, O. O., Akunnaya Pearl, O., Abiodun Olukayode, O., and Adedapo Adewunmi, O. (2019). Factors Influencing Housing Development Patterns in International Border Towns in Ogun state, Nigeria. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, 10(3).

Oluwakayode, A. A. (2020). Socio-Behavioral Indices of Health as Correlates of Mental Health Status of Nurses in Akure Metropolis, Ondo State, Nigeria. International Journal, 12(3).

Owoeye, J. O., and Adedeji, Y. M. D. (2015). Urban land acquisition for sustainable housing delivery in Akure, Nigeria. International Journal of Developing Societies, 4(1), pp. 10-20.

Pelling, M. (2012). The vulnerability of cities: natural disasters and social resilience. United Kingdom: Routledge.

Rydin, Y., Bleahu, A., Davies, M., Dávila, J. D., Friel, S., De Grandis, G., ... and Wilson, J. (2012). Shaping cities for health: complexity and the planning of urban environments in the 21st century. The Lancet, 379(9831), pp. 2079-2108.

Wahab, B. (2017). Transforming Nigerian informal settlements into Liveable communities: strategies and challenges