What Is The Nigerian Land Tenure System?: Everything To Know About It In Today

The Land tenure system in Nigeria explores the subject of land ownership in Nigeria and everything you need to know about it. In this article, you’ll learn about land ownership regulations in Nigeria to keep yourself informed about how it operates within Nigerian society.

What Does Land Tenure System Mean?

In Nigeria, the Land Tenure System grants land ownership to people, legal bodies, and corporate bodies, all based on their land use. The Land Tenure System in Nigeria is a set of laws used to regulate the use, management, and transfer of land ownership in the country.

In Nigeria, there are various types of Land Tenure Systems, all of which apply in various settings. These various types are applied in other to strengthen property rights. Below, you’ll learn about the seven and how they operate.

The 7 Types Of Land Tenure System In Nigeria

In Nigeria, seven land tenure systems are used in the country, and they all operate differently. They are:

1. Freehold Tenure System

This tenure system allows individuals to pay for the rights to outrightly own land, which they can also use as collateral for a loan. The size of the land/property you buy determines the price you’ll pay.

2. Inheritance Tenure System

Here’s a land tenure system that transfers land to a next of kin. So, the land can only be inherited by whoever is the next of kin of the original owner.

3. Communal Land Tenure System

This land tenure system gives an entire community ownership over a piece of land. The land automatically becomes a sole belonging of those within this community.

4. Leasehold Tenure System

Here, an individual is granted temporary land ownership when they pay the original land owner a certain amount. The land owner takes back their land or property after the lease payment has expired.

5. Gift Tenure System

This is a tenure system where a previous original owner of land gives it up to another person as a gift without being forced. The new owner now assumes total ownership of the land through a change of documents and can use the land/property as collateral.

6. Rent Tenure System

This tenure system allows an occupant of a land/property to pay a certain amount for the land. The rent is also agreed to be renewed monthly/bimonthly/quarterly/yearly.

7. Tenants At Government Will

This is a tenure system where the Nigerian government lease out land to farmers for farming. Farming is the only thing that can be done in a land like this.

Advantages Of The Nigerian Land Tenure System

There are several advantages associated with the Nigerian Land Tenure System. They include:

• It gives a land owner the legal backing to any property they own/occupy
• It avoids a situation whereby land/property will be illegally collected from the original owner
• It’s a system that shows a land regulatory process between the government and individuals, and individuals and other individuals
• It is backed by the Land Use Act and provides owners with legal protections
• It is a system that enables people to freely use their lands without compromise and also to monetize the lands they own

Disadvantages Of The Nigerian Land Tenure System

Are there any disadvantages involved with Land Tenure System in Nigeria? The only disadvantage is that:

• Not everyone can own lands under the Land Tenure System because not all Nigerians can afford to buy lands/properties

Conclusion

In Nigeria, this is the system that determines who is considered to be the owner of the land, and each state makes these land tenure laws in Nigeria.