Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
municipal (local) governments are responsible for preparing and implementing
town plans and for controlling development within their area of jurisdiction.
Section 1 of the Land Use Act of 1978 (FRN, 1978) notes that all land in
each state is ultimately controlled by the governor of that state, who holds lands
in trust and administers it for the use and common benefit of all Nigerians. The
state governor is empowered to grant statutory rights of land occupancy to any
person above the age of 21, for all purposes, regardless of whether or not the
land is situated in an urban area (Section 5(4) of the 1978 Land Use Act).
Under Section 6.1 of this Act, the local government is given the power to
grant customary rights of occupancy for the use of non-urban land for
agricultural, residential and other purposes for a specific period of time. The
Act does not define urban land or other land; however, governors are required
to publish in the state gazette which areas in the state are designated as urban
or as 'other' land. Section 43.3.4 of the Act notes that any person who
contravenes any of its provisions 'would be guilty of an offence and liable on
conviction to imprisonment for one year or to a fine of N5000.00 (US$42) or a
fine of N100.00 (less than US$1 per day) each day during which he makes a
default in complying with the requirements made by the governor'.
The Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Decree of 1992 complements
this 1978 Act. UA is not recognized except in Section 72, which relates to the
preservation or planting of trees. In fact, because no state in Nigeria has
o
cially recognized UA (Olofin and Tanko, 2003), UA can be considered a
contravening activity.
In addition to there being no recognition for UA, state governors have
imposed discretionary measures that have harmed its status and viability. For
instance, in Kaduna State, the governor prohibited the use of government plots
for any agricultural activity, despite the fact that public institutions own large
areas of undeveloped land. This edict empowered the heads of public institutions
throughout the state to ban farming at the institutions under their control.
Zaria's Ahmadu Bello University destroyed crops on its premises in 1997 and
1998. Moreover, it completely banned the cultivation of tall crops on non-
university experimental land or plots (i.e.onlandwithinstaffresidentialareas
and on undeveloped land around the campuses of the university).
In general, planning constraints in Nigeria and in particular in Kaduna
State have impeded the growth of UA and discouraged urban farmers in Zaria.
Farmers do not invest in land because they are insecure about being able to
maintain access and being able to farm the land in the near future. Thus, urban
farmers hardly ever obtain the maximum production from their farms.
This research examines the pattern and implications of agriculture in
Zaria and provides recommendations for physical planning. The study had
four objectives:
1 Assess urban land use policies relating to urban agricultural development
2 Determine the pattern and characteristics of UA in Zaria
3 Determine implications of UA on physical planning in Zaria
4 Make recommendations for physical planning.
