LEGAL REGIME OF LAND ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE ABUJA GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (AGIS)

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Author

Presented To

Department of Law

ABSTRACT
Recent efforts to secure tenure and enhance real property markets are under pressure from increasing demand and competition for land. While limited success in implementing land administration reform in the FCT have led to inefficiency, incoherent and poor land management, have been recognized as one of the key obstacles hindering change and also undermining its huge potential and global competitiveness. This thesis assesses the extent land administration reform under AGIS has engendered positive outcomes in the FCT and the explanations for the outcomes, to determine the areas of shortcomings for improvement. Data collection for the research involved sample of 250 applicant/beneficiaries of land, drawn across seven districts to determine how land administration system in FCT has improved in practice. The institutional survey provided information on the management activities of land related departments and the operations of AGIS. It focused on the performance of the system in meeting the challenge of land acquisition. Good governance principles was considered as evaluation criterion in land administration systems, and identified six evaluation areas that has links to what aspects of the outcomes of land administration system is best affected by AGIS. The good governance principles were also used as benchmarking for a presumed ideal system. The research reveals that land administration in AGIS does not address unequal land distribution. Management, acquisition and disposal of public land follow unclear procedures and are not applied transparently. Formal land delivery takes an inordinate amount of time under the existing frameworks and land fees are unaffordable to many in the FCT. The survey reveals that only about 17% of good governance in land administration has been achieved by the Abuja Geographic Information System. In conclusion, the study recommends that Fairness and equity in land acquisition processes can be achieved by properly constituting and allowed to function, the Land Use and Allocation Committee (LUAC). AGIS workflow can be reorganized and state-of-the art technology installed for efficiency-, so that processes and procedures available for the acquisition of land would be clear and understood by the general public. Active participation of key stakeholders is necessary through the use of public hearings and citizen’s forums.