Food is inevitable but the land is mismanaged: exploring the impacts of local actors utilization of land resources on food security in Nigeria

Land is a sine qua non of human existence, and has been conceived as integral and most valuable resources, which are indispensable for human development. Hitherto, in spite of massive land space and fertile soil, land mismanagement constitutes a serious challenge to the attainment of sustainable food security in Nigeria. Ostensibly, the increased level of food importation in the country is a function of a number of factors from inadvertent mismanagement of land resources by local actors The study explores the extent of involvement of local actors in utilization of land resources on food security. It also assess the challenges of land mismanagement on food security, and examines the influences of land mismanagement on rural-urban migration vis-a-vis food insecurity in Nigeria. Sustainable Land Management and Marxism theories were used. Descriptive research design was employed, which uses in-depth interview guide in sourcing for useful information. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques was employed for the study. Data collected were analysed using content analysis. The study concluded that mismanagement of land in Nigeria has encourages decline in quality of environment, quality of food production, and price increase in the food commodity, which has a debilitating effect on food security in the country.