8 Conclusion
This chapter is written in the context of Nigeria’s emerging fiasco in the sphere of
‘natural resource governance’, or conflict laden soil governance legal and policy
framework. This, however, is against the ground swell of documented warnings by
several scholars who had pointed to the blanket adoption of Eurocentric alien laws,
policies and values without adaptation to local circumstances. The end to land or soil
governance-related conflicts in Nigeria seems not quite close, except the federal
government takes bold and convincing steps to tackle the root causes head
on. Regrettably, the leaders of the country at different levels, especially the elite,
seem to be comfortable with the failed soil/land governance system. Invariably, the
government needs to explore all available avenues from both local and international
perspectives to engage all stakeholders to arrive at a well-articulated and workable
legal framework that is relatively acceptable to the various groups and segments of
the Nigerian federation to achieve a positive result.
Although the soil or land governance issue is a global phenomenon, every nation
has its peculiarities. In Nigeria, it is made more complicated with the introduction of
ethno-religious and political ‘face’ into it. More so, lack of political will and
deliberate mischaracterization of the issue by the federal government coupled with
‘perceived incapacity’ to tackle the root causes of the problem, drastically, makes
matters worse. This portends avoidable tensions and more crises for the country as
more pressure is placed on the limited land and soil resources through the activities
of non-indigenous groups.
References
Adigun O, Omotola JA (1982) The Land Use Act – Report of a National Workshop
Agbosu L (1988) The Land Use Act and the state of Nigerian land law. J Afr Law 32(1):1–43
Allaby M, Park C (eds) (2017) A dictionary of environment and conservation, 3rd edn. Oxford
University Press
Bentsi-Enchill K (1964) Ghana land law, an exposition, analysis and critique. African University
Press, Lagos
Boer B, Hannam I (2015) Developing a global soil regime. Int J Rural Law Policy Soil Gov, Special
Edition 1
Coker GBA (1966) Family property among the Yorubas (No. 14). Sweet and Maxwell
Daily Post (January 16th, 2018a) Senator Adamu Aliero, Dino Melaye differ on creation of cattle
colony. Available at: https://dailypost.ng/2018/01/16/senator-adamu-aliero-dino-melaye-differcreation-cattle-colony/
Daily Post (March 26th, 2018b) Sagay backs Danjuma’s self-defence advice, says law allows
Nigerians to defend themselves. Available at: https://www.thecable.ng
Daily Post (April 24th, 2018c) Catholic Church confirms killing of Rev Father in Benue. http://
www.google.com/amp/dailypost.ng/2018/04/24/catholic-church-confirms-killing-rev-fathersbenue/ampshare¼http://dailypost.ng/2018/04/24/catholic-church
Duggan CS (2009) Nigeria: opportunity in crisis? Harvard Business School
Elias TO (1971) Ilorin land and the land tenure law 1962. Niger Law J 5(1971):159
178
B. B. Orubebe
This chapter is written in the context of Nigeria’s emerging fiasco in the sphere of
‘natural resource governance’, or conflict laden soil governance legal and policy
framework. This, however, is against the ground swell of documented warnings by
several scholars who had pointed to the blanket adoption of Eurocentric alien laws,
policies and values without adaptation to local circumstances. The end to land or soil
governance-related conflicts in Nigeria seems not quite close, except the federal
government takes bold and convincing steps to tackle the root causes head
on. Regrettably, the leaders of the country at different levels, especially the elite,
seem to be comfortable with the failed soil/land governance system. Invariably, the
government needs to explore all available avenues from both local and international
perspectives to engage all stakeholders to arrive at a well-articulated and workable
legal framework that is relatively acceptable to the various groups and segments of
the Nigerian federation to achieve a positive result.
Although the soil or land governance issue is a global phenomenon, every nation
has its peculiarities. In Nigeria, it is made more complicated with the introduction of
ethno-religious and political ‘face’ into it. More so, lack of political will and
deliberate mischaracterization of the issue by the federal government coupled with
‘perceived incapacity’ to tackle the root causes of the problem, drastically, makes
matters worse. This portends avoidable tensions and more crises for the country as
more pressure is placed on the limited land and soil resources through the activities
of non-indigenous groups.
References
Adigun O, Omotola JA (1982) The Land Use Act – Report of a National Workshop
Agbosu L (1988) The Land Use Act and the state of Nigerian land law. J Afr Law 32(1):1–43
Allaby M, Park C (eds) (2017) A dictionary of environment and conservation, 3rd edn. Oxford
University Press
Bentsi-Enchill K (1964) Ghana land law, an exposition, analysis and critique. African University
Press, Lagos
Boer B, Hannam I (2015) Developing a global soil regime. Int J Rural Law Policy Soil Gov, Special
Edition 1
Coker GBA (1966) Family property among the Yorubas (No. 14). Sweet and Maxwell
Daily Post (January 16th, 2018a) Senator Adamu Aliero, Dino Melaye differ on creation of cattle
colony. Available at: https://dailypost.ng/2018/01/16/senator-adamu-aliero-dino-melaye-differcreation-cattle-colony/
Daily Post (March 26th, 2018b) Sagay backs Danjuma’s self-defence advice, says law allows
Nigerians to defend themselves. Available at: https://www.thecable.ng
Daily Post (April 24th, 2018c) Catholic Church confirms killing of Rev Father in Benue. http://
www.google.com/amp/dailypost.ng/2018/04/24/catholic-church-confirms-killing-rev-fathersbenue/ampshare¼http://dailypost.ng/2018/04/24/catholic-church
Duggan CS (2009) Nigeria: opportunity in crisis? Harvard Business School
Elias TO (1971) Ilorin land and the land tenure law 1962. Niger Law J 5(1971):159
178
B. B. Orubebe