Property Development and Land Use Planning Regulations in Nigeria

Several land use planning regulations have been enacted in Nigeria over the years to control property development so as to ensure sustainable human environment. Despite the existence of these regulations, property development is still being carried out in ways that constitute environmental challenges in cities. With samples drawn from Abia State, this study examined the level of compliance of property development with planning regulations in Nigeria. The study was based mainly on primary data which were collected through direct observation, questionnaires, and through measurement of geometric variables of the buildings and their immediate outdoor spaces. Cluster and simple random sampling techniques were used to proportionately select buildings and respondents that were surveyed. Data collected were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Specifically, the t - test for paired samples was used to test the hypotheses of the study. Findings show that the level of compliance of buildings to planning regulations is not significant, with mean compliance rate being less than 20%. It also reveals that there is significant difference in the level of compliance to planning regulations between buildings constructed in the urban areas (with mean compliance rate of 14.5%), and those constructed in suburban/ rural areas (with mean compliance rate of 42%). Certain factors were found to be responsible for the low level of compliance among which are low level of physical planning and inadequate funding for planning authorities. The researchers therefore recommend that government should embark on the preparation of up-to-date land use plans for various towns and villages; implement the autonomy of the town planning authorities; and create the enabling environment for effective development control across the country.