Investigating the Nature and Effects of Land Conflict at Construction Sites: Insights from Nigeria and South Africa

Daramola Thompson  Olapade; Justus Ngala  Agumba; Rudzani Glen  Muthelo

Daramola Thompson Olapade Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
Justus Ngala Agumba Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
Rudzani Glen Muthelo Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa

Keywords: Land conflict, Construction work, Ajagungbale, Construction mafias, Omo onile

Abstract

Construction work, like other activities, takes place on land, which is often subject to varying disputes, ranging from ownership tussle to full-blown interstate or secessionist conflict. The commencement of construction work is evidence that the site is in possession, thereby drawing the attention of other claimants to the site, possibly leading to dispute that exposes
construction workers to hazards. Such situations could impact the health and safety of contractors and construction workers, especially when nonstate actors are involved. Considering the high level of conflict at construction sites in Nigeria and, recently, in South Africa, this study examines the nature of land conflicts on construction sites in Nigeria and South Africa, focusing on the activities of non-state actors that interfere with construction work. The study aims to provide insight that can help to reduce conflict at construction sites. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study collected primary data through interviews with 19 informants from Government Offices Providing Land Administrative Services (GOPLAS) and 23 purposively selected landowners who had experienced land disputes during construction in Lagos, Nigeria. For the South Africa context, the data came from desktop media analysis of publications in
newspaper editorials, blogs, television news and government publications on non-state actors perpetrating conflict at construction sites (i.e., members of the so-called construction mafia). Following thematic analyses, the study found a similarity between the activities of non-state actors in the construction sector in Nigeria (the omo onile and the ajagungbale) and
South Africa (the construction mafia). Among their activities are extortion, use of threats, violence, and disruption of construction work to enforce their demands. The two groups also enjoy some sort of social and legal legitimacy but differ in the range of construction sites where they perpetrate conflict. The study also discovered that the effects of the activities of non-state actors include physical injury and death, loss of investor confidence, and destruction of construction work and equipment, among others. Conflicts at construction sites frequently lead to resource limitations and uncertainty in the work environment. Thus, the study provides insights into the complex relationship between informal land governance and construction hazards. It highlights the urgent need for devising holistic strategies that address both the institutional and community dimensions of land conflict, thereby paving the way for safer, more inclusive urban development in African cities.