The Yusufu Bala Usman Institute, Zaria, has urged a review of Nigeria’s 1978 Land Use Act to tackle land-related insecurity across the country.
Attahiru Bala-Usman, Director of the institute, made the call on Tuesday in Katsina during the dissemination of research findings on Land Governance, Ecology, and Insecurity in four Northern states.
He said the research could help address insecurity challenges, particularly farmer-herder conflicts, in the affected states.
Bala-Usman explained that the study, supported by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, was conducted in Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina, and Kaduna States between 2024 and 2026.
He added that stakeholders were engaged to provide input aimed at restoring peace and improving land governance in the country.
Earlier, Dr. Adam Higazi, the research team leader, said that reviewing the Land Use Act would help address land expropriation, which often leaves victims impoverished and vulnerable to conflict.
Higazi noted that multiple field visits were undertaken in each state during both wet and dry seasons within the study period.
“There is evidence that land expropriation is a major issue in most Northern states. Work is needed nationwide to investigate land governance and land cover changes. The social, economic, and ecological impacts of land grabbing must be exposed wherever they occur, with a view to addressing them,” he said.
He added that the findings showed that land ownership and usage largely determine control over the means of production in rural areas, with significant social, economic, and ecological implications.
Also speaking, Dr. Zainab Nuhu, who presented findings on Katsina State, said the fieldwork covered 25 local government areas.
Nuhu said the study revealed severe impacts of land expropriation on individuals, communities, and the environment. She cited a case where about 260 hectares of land in Karkarku, Sandamu Local Government Area, were earmarked for a project in Daura without compensation to the owners.
The researcher urged both state and federal governments to address the issue by ensuring adequate compensation for affected persons.
