THEORETICAL REFLECTIONS ON QUESTIONS OF EQUITY AND FAIRNESS OF COMPENSATION ON COMPULSORY LAND ACQUISITIONS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The paper examined the theoretical reflections on questions of equity and fairness of compensation on compulsory land acquisition in Nigeria.  This was with the view of undertaking holistic analysis and appraisal of the concept of equity and fairness of compensation payable to a land owner whose land was compulsorily acquired by the government or its agents for overriding public interest for developmental purpose or purposes.  The   study relied on Primary and Secondary sources of information while the primary source includes the Land Use Act, the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) while the secondary sources includes books, journal articles, conference proceedings, newspapers, Magazines, and internets, data collected will be subjected to content analysis .The study found that compensation paid to land owners whose land were compulsorily acquired by the government is grossly inadequate to compensate the land owner  that is to put him or her in the position he or she was before the property was acquired.