Land Tenure System in Nigeria and the need for Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

Land tenure systems under secular and customary systems were examined for their significance in land use and climate change mitigation. The review explored the customary land ownership and ownership under the secular system. It found that under the customary law, the land is vested in the community or family and no one has the right to alienation. The land is seen as an inheritance held in trust for the dead, the living and the unborn. The Customary court is established to litigate land cases under customary land ownership. Under the secular system, land is governed by the 1978 Land use Act that vests land in the State. The secular system presents some difficulties in land acquisitions and administration due to bureaucratic bottlenecks and corruption. Therefore, the authors advocate for the strengthening of both systems so that the strengths of both can be harnessed. That way the revenue of the State from land administration could be enhanced, conservation promoted and land degradation minimized. Biodiversity conservation is critical to climate change mitigation and maintenance of environmental quality.