LANDOWNER AND LAND FRAGMENTATION IN KANO METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined land owners and land fragmentation in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria. The practice of land fragmentation or sub-division is gaining prominence particularly along the fringes of Kano Metropolis. Land owners with large parcel of land engages in informal land subdivision without involving planners and land administrators resulting in emergence of fragmented land lots which are often too small and below the approved standard. Data for the study was obtained primarily through the administration of structured questionnaire to 84 prominent land owners in the metropolis selected through a
combination of purposive and snowballing sampling techniques. Major findings of the study revealed that there is high
incidence of land fragmentation in the study area. Majority of the respondents (82%) fragments land below 50x50ft. The
main reasons for engaging in land fragmentation according to the respondents were to maximize returns from the land and fragmented lands are more affordable and preferred by the urban poor according to 44% and 31% of the sampled
respondents respectively. The study further reveals that 87% of the respondents do not involve government officials in the course of fragmenting land due to fear of losing the land or part of it as well as the huge charges that will be incurred if officials of the State Ministry of Lands and Survey are involved. The study recommends among others that Government should make it mandatory for land owners to contact or liaise with the State Ministry of Lands and Survey before fragmenting any land. This is with the view to ensure compliance with planning rules and regulations and at the same time give the area a semblance of planned neighborhood.