Challenges of land acquisition system on urban housing development in selected cities in South-South, Nigeria

Urban housing continues to present itself as a major problem in urban centres in Nigeria. This study aimed at examining challenges of land acquisition system on housing development in major cities of selected states in South-South region, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted while questionnaire was the main instrument of data collection. The population of the study was drawn from the archive of Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON, 2022). Consequently, copies of questionnaire were administered to 155 registered members across the States to obtain relevant information on the subject under investigation. Data analysis was done using the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The findings revealed that effective housing development is hindered by inadequate funding (23.3%), high construction costs (19.4%), limited land availability (12.5%) and rapid urbanization (11.2%). The analysis further revealed public dissatisfaction with land acquisition system. The transparency of land acquisition processes scored a weighted mean (WM) of 2.4. Similarly, the clarity of government policies on land acquisition fared slightly better (WM = 2.5). When it comes to rights protection, the Land Use Act's effectiveness (WM = 2.6) received mixed responses, showing that while some believe it offers protection, others remain unconvinced. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) also showed that there is statistically significant relationship between land access and housing development in the study area at p<0.05. Arising from the findings, the study recommended improved access to affordable financing for housing among other recommendations.