Land Degradation in Nigeria: An Exploration of the Regulatory Framework for Land Resources Management in Ogun State

Abstract

Globally, the management of land resources for sustainable human development has been a herculean task. In Nigeria, inefficient management of land resources, leading to land degradation, has become a major environmental issue. This phenomenon manifests as the deterioration of soil quality, deforestation, desertification and loss of biodiversity as induced by the activities of local actors. Playing key roles in the land-use and degradation process are stakeholders such as community leaders, farmers, local government, and herders. In the face of inadequate land-use knowledge, conflict of interest and lack of functional regulations, these stakeholders engage in frequently unwholesome activities that negatively impact the land. Regrettably, current regulatory policies on land resources are weakened by ambiguity and a top-down approach that ignores the input and cooperation of the local communities who are most affected by land degradation. Thus, this study investigated the extent of involvement of local actors in the utilization of land resources vis-à-vis land degradation in Nigeria, focusing on the functionality of institutional regulations for managing the challenges of land degradation. The study adopted mixedmethods research design incorporating a questionnaire and an interview guide. For the selection of respondents and participants, the researcher utilized the purposive and snowball) sampling techniques. The data was analysed through descriptive analysis and content analysis. It was found that land degradation has persisted in Ogun State, Nigeria mainly because of ineffective government regulation of the activities of local actors in the utilization of the country’s land resources. Accordingly, it is recommended that government should strengthen its institutional framework on land use and management by designing functional and people-centric land policies while mitigating the effects of land degradation.