“IS THIS LAND YOURS OR NOT?”; A QUESTION ONLY LAND LAW CAN ANSWER.

Imagine a scenario wherein people just claim anywhere, anytime in very haphazard manner, anybody could wake one morning to claim a piece of land that never belonged to them and then, those in former possession of the land start to have conflict with the new possessors of the land. This and many more crazy instances would be the other of the day if LAND LAW wasn’t made established.

Land is seen to be one of the most valuable assets in society that appreciates from time to time, and its possession, ownership and transference is often guided by an important area of legal practices known as ”land law”. This branch and part of law governs and operates nearly everything, if not, every single thing that pertains to LAND; from land ownership of landed properties and various leases to inheritance, sakes if land and resolution of disputes caused by land issues.

Land law does determine the person who has the right to make use of a particular piece of land, under a particular set of conditions, and for a particular duration. In countries like Nigeria, the concept of land law is shaped by both the customary law and the statutory law, thus,creating a unique blend of tradition and modern regulation.

One of the key roles of land law is to protect ownership of land and landed properties. It helps ensure that landowners have the legal evidence and proof of ownership of whatever land they’rein possession of. It usually could be through titles, certificates of occupancy or other means. It also plays a very crucial role as it looks into the judicious management of land use, thus, helping to control the zoning of land; whether it’s for housing, farming, or business.

Also, land law does the regulation of “lease agreements” between landed properties partners like; landlords and tenants, with the aim of preventing situations of exploitation and also ensuring fair treatment. However, in cases like government acquisition of land for the sake of public projects, land law ensures that the process is a legal one and that compensation is paid to rightful possessors of the landed properties affected.

It would interest you to know that disputes over family landed properties or inheritance are also very much common, especially when under customary systems. Land law helps put to peaceful resolution the kind of issues that arise from these kind of situations as it would help strike a balance between traditional practices and formal legal standards.

All in all, law on land is all about creating a structure that embodies fairness as to how one of society’s most essential resources is being handled and managed. However, with clearly laid down and stated land laws, development is definitely possible and then, disputes are put to  reduction, if not not total eradication, while rights are protected.