Private residential property developers and the system of land use planning regulation in Nigeria

While no acceptable figure exists as to the trite contribution of private individual property developers in the overall urban residential market in Nigeria, estimates range from as low as 50% to as high as 80% of all housing stock. Most experts however, agree that these developers are the biggest single group of housing providers in Nigeria. A critical component of the delivery of urban property however, is the system of land use planning. The significance of the institution of town planning revolves round the allocation and nature of development rights and regulations, governing urban developments. The current practice of land use planning in Nigeria is criticised for supplanting rather than supporting the efforts of private initiative in urban housing delivery. This paper uses empirical data from the cities of Nigeria to demonstrate the failure of the current system of land use planning, while putting forward suggestions for the reform of the system.