Tim Effectiveness of Government Policies and Approaches in Curbing Informal Land Market in Calabar, Nigeria

Purpose: This study examined the effectiveness of government policies and approaches in curbing the informal land market in Calabar. Consideration was given to government strategies in implementing land policies for their effectiveness. Research Design/Methodology/Approach: This empirical study adopted a qualitative research design in data gathering. The research data were sourced from community leaders in Calabar and key informants from the state Ministry of Lands and Urban Development. To attain data saturation, 23 community leaders /land-owners participated in the study while a total of 7 participants were involved from the Ministry. Thematic and content analysis were adopted as a method of data analysis to further give specific direction to respondents’ opinions based on recurring themes. This was done using ATLAS.ti. The respondents’ opinions were further reduced and represented in a frequency distribution table. Findings: It is evident from the findings of this survey that the government through the state Ministry of Lands and Urban Development has implemented different land policies that incorporate Land Title Registration, Land Information Systems, and Awareness Campaigns as well as policies that provide a legal basis for land ownership in an attempt to curb informal land transactions. These strategies collectively contribute to the overall effectiveness of government policies in formal land registration. Conclusion/Recommendation: It is evident that there is a consensus amongst the study respondents that government policies have effectively reduced informal land market transactions. However, this study recommends collaborative efforts between government agencies within the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development and local communities. This will improve compliance and reduce the prevalence of informal land transactions in the study area.