ACCESSIBILITY TO LAND FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN SANGO OTA

Abstract

This study identified the means of gaining access to land; assessed the quantum of land acquired through the Land Use Act for allocation relative to demand for residential land use; examined the procedure involved in granting a statutory right of occupancy, assessed the factors militating against land accessibility. This was with a view to providing information that will enhance land accessibility for residential development under the Land Use Act in Sango Ota. A total number of 288 questionnaires were administered to residential property developers, out of which 262 questionnaires were retrieved. Also 12 relevant staff of Ogun State Bureau of Lands and Housing were interviewed to give information on the activities of the bureau. Both the descriptive and inferential statistical methods were adopted for the analysis. Weighted mean ranking was used to analyse the means of gaining access to land in the study area, while percentage and ratio were used to analyse the supply of land under the Land Use Acts relative to demand for residential use. Also, weighted mean ranking was used to analyse procedures involved in granting statutory right of occupancy while factor analysis was used to access the challenges against land accessibility in the study area. The study revealed among other findings that 87.79% of the residential property developers in the study area acquired their land from family and private individuals. The study also established that the quantity of land available through the Government fell far below the actual demand. The result of the factor analysis identified two factors namely Economic and Environmental factors as the factors serving as problems to land accessibility in Sango Ota. Factors one (1), named economic factor loaded on the variables time taken, cumbersome process, physical location, allocation process, lack of information and land availability. While factor two (2) named Environmental factors loaded on the variables cost of acquisition, un-cooperative attitude of officials, political influence, land policy and corruption of the office. It can be deduced that 89.8% of the variance associated with the variables (Time taken) was a common or shared variance. Finally the study concluded that the operation of the Land Use Act and it attendant problems are part of the modernization process and these may not be stopped. However, it socio-economic and other deleterious consequences must be curtailed to make land available to all users.