CONSEQUENCES OF COMPULSORY LAND ACQUISITION ON THE LIVELIHOODS OF THE URBAN POOR IN SOKOTO METROPOLIS, NIGERIA.

Dankani, I.M.* and Halidu, R.M.

Access to land in Nigeria, has been clearly explained by the 1978 Land Use Decree. Land can be allocated to an individual or corporate body by the government either through statutory or customary allocation of right of occupancy. Similarly, the decree empowers the Government via Section 28(1) to acquire land compulsorily from individuals and corporate bodies for provision of public services by invoking the Overriding Public Interest clause of the Decree. The Decree stipulated that, compensation should be given to victims of Compulsory Acquisition in order to alleviate their ordeals and sufferings. This paper examines the consequence of compulsory land acquisition on the livelihood of the urban poor in Sokoto State, Nigeria. Five areas that experienced these acquisitions were selected purposively(based on the fact that government conducted compulsory acquisition in the areas), namely; Sokoto State University complex, Bado quarters Housing Estate, Arkilla Housing Estate, Mana Housing Estate and Gidan Man Ada Housing Estate. Respondents for the study were selected via a combination of purposive and snowball sampling techniques and a total of 460 were arrived at. Major findings of the study reveal that Respondents were not adequately compensated and were provided with no livelihood alternative having taken away their houses and farmlands thereby exacerbating their situation of poverty. Respondents were of the opinion that compulsory land acquisition policy is anti-poor and it serves the interest of the rich and the elite. The study concludes by recommending proper compensation to the victims as well as implementing the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Land Reforms during the late president Yar’adua administration which suggested compensating land-owners on the basis of the market value of the land.

Key words: Compulsory land acquisition, Livelihood, Urban poor, Sokoto.