ALIENATION OF FAMILY LAND IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

One  of  the  problems  this  research  discovers  is  that  of  conflict  of  interpretation  of  the requirement  of  consent  provision  as  provided  under  sections  21  and  22  of  the  Land  Use  Act. This  problem  leads  to  conflicting  decisions  by  the  Apex  court,  the  development  that  always puts  the  lower  courts  in  dilemma  as  to  which  of  the  decisions  of  the  court  to  apply  in  cases relating  to  alienation  of  land.  Another problem the research discovers,  is that majority of the problems that stem out of  customary land tenure system is who has the right to alienate and who doesn't .  Therefore, the research appraised and analyzed Nigeria's customary land tenure system and draws its scope majorly in the Benin Customary Land System.  The  methodology  adopted  in  this  work  is  doctrinal  which  is  library oriented.  The  research  found  that  there  is  conflict  of  decisions in  judicial authorities as it bothers on customary alienation  of  land.  It  again  found  that  people  engage  in  land  transaction  without  complying with  the  requirement of the land use act and appropriate due diligence.  It  also  recommended  that  consent  clause  should completely  be  removed  or  time  limit  for  governors  to  give  consent  be  fixed  and  if  it  expires, consent  should  be  deemed  granted.  Banks and buyers need to be very careful by ensuring that mortgagors obtained consent and from proper authority.