TOWARDS A BETTER LAND GOVERNANCE IN IMO STATE

Abstract

Imo State was created in 1976 among other States of the Federation of Nigeria. Today 2021 almost forty (40) years after, the state of development of its land and land infrastructures can at best be categorized as deplorable and polarized with unregulated, uncoordinated and un-unified development thus giving room to leap-frogging and unprogressive development of land resources. This paper examined some of the key issues bordering on land governance. It reviewed actions and inactions of government hindering access to land for housing, farming and public assets in the State. Effort was made to examine the laws and statutes of the Federation as well as the edicts of the State on land. Data were collected from varied sources including government gazettes and white papers as well as citizens of the State. The paper concluded among others that the spate of land acquisition and exploitation in Imo State is gargantuan that government must check same or run the risk of losing control of development of land resources in the State.