Land Use Procedures and Its Impact on Housing Affordability in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria

Abstract

The Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria has experienced significant growth and development in recent decades, leading to increasing pressure on the land and resources within the city. In response, the government has implemented a range of land use regulations and zoning policies aimed at managing urban growth and preserving the city's environmental and cultural heritage. However, the effectiveness of these policies in achieving their intended goals has been the subject of ongoing debate and analysis. This paper examined the impact of land use procedures on housing affordability in the federal capital territory of Nigeria. This study reviewed the theory of the new institutional economics theory, Resource-Based View (RBV) theory and the Human Ecology theory. This study is anchored on the RBV theory since it is a more suitable theoretical framework for analysing the impact of land use procedures on housing affordability in the federal capital territory of Nigeria, and it posits that the availability and management of resources, including land, can impact on the competitiveness of a region. This study found among others that strict land use regulations have led to a shortage of affordable housing in the FCT, as developers tend to focus on high-end developments to maximize profits. This study recommends amongst others that streamlining the process of the land use approvals in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, and making it more efficient can encourage developers to invest in the region, which may lead to increased urban development.

Keywords: land use procedures, housing affordability, population growth