ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE NIGERIAN COMPULSORY ACQUISITION PRACTICE IN ROAD INFRASTRUCTURAL PROVISION IN RIVERS STATE

This study examines the effectiveness of the current acquisition and valuation practice. The paper is focused on the existing process and practice of compulsory land acquisition in road infrastructure and investigates the adherence of existing practice to international best practices. After reviewing provisions being applied internationally, a survey of Practicing Estate Surveyors and Valuers and some Landowners, complementing the survey, with face-to-face interviews were done. Findings indicate that there is unfairness and absence of transparency which are the benchmark of international best practices. The study recommends that best practices be adapted and effectively implemented to ensure that affected persons are placed in the position they were before the acquisitions.