Paper short abstract:

This paper examines the actors involved in the processes of State agricultural land allocation. Study indicates some degree of ambiguity in the process and recommends transparency leadership in land governance and fair compensation to the affected families whose land has been acquired.

Paper long abstract:

From time of immemorial through the period of agriculture to the period of industrial development, land has remained the most valuable property in the life of man and its development. The Land Use Act of 1978 in Nigeria nationalized land, placing ownership in the hands of the state governors "in trust" for the benefit of all the Nigerian people but the objectives appear not to have been met after 41 years of its enactment. This study examined the actors involved in the processes of State agricultural land allocation and effectiveness of the process. The study makes use of primary data sourced from 480 government agricultural land beneficiaries (agricultural land allottees) across the 6 States in South West Nigeria. In addition, the view of community leaders and farm households were sought through interview concerning their roles in government acquired agricultural land, the challenges they often encounter and how such were resolved. The finding of this study showed that different actors were involved in the process of securing State agricultural land. Some of the identified challenges confronting agricultural land allottees in South West Nigeria include: hostility from host community, government official bureaucracy and high cost of securing and perfecting land title. The study confirmed that government agricultural land acquisition has dispossessed members of the communities of their large parcels of land. The study recommends transparency leadership in land governance and fair compensation to the affected families whose land has been acquired by government.