Land use decree, forest administration and governance crises in Nigeria
Akinola, Shittu R.
The common thread to forest administration and land-use decree is the conferment of ownership and power of distribution of forest and land on one person, the King or the state governor during colonial and post-colonial eras respectively. This invariably led to the misuse of power that skewed resources allocation and distribution in favour of the privileged few at the expense of the generality of Nigerian people. This despotic action has, since then, generated a lot of controversies and conflicts between original landowners, governments and tenants in forests. Because of the nature of the problems so created and the apathy on the part of Nigerian governments, forest administration in Nigeria has not been able to address these conflictual relations. Lack of clear-cut institutional arrangements during colonial and postindependence eras had caused, and is still causing governance crises as the common man suffers several damages. This paper found that migrant farmers suffered untold damages in the hands of Ondo State Government as they were forcefully ejected out of their village, Orisunbare. The displacement of migrant farmers in Oluwa forest reserve in Ondo State of Nigeria confirms governance crises in Nigeria, especially the way conflict of interests between the state government, the indigenous landowners and the migrant farmers was handled. The incidence of conflict mainly impinges on the welfare of the migrant farmers and their families. They lost properties that included houses, farm products and other personal belongings. Childrenns education was greatly affected. The farmers, no doubt, have been subjected to poverty.
Event: 5th FIG Regional Conference for Africa : Promoting Land Administration and Good Governance
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