COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LAND ACCESSIBILITY AMONG FOUR SUB-ETHNIC GROUPS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The paper compared accessibility to land among sub-ethnic groups in rural communities of Osun State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from four major sub-ethnic groups from 30 selected communities in the State using multistage sampling procedure. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics such as percentages, means and standard deviation while ANOVA was used for inferential purpose. Results showed that the mean age of respondents from Oyo, Ife, Igbomina and ijesa sub-ethnic groups were 48 years, 47.1 years, 44 years and 48 years respectively. About 72%, 81.2%, 88% and 80.5% had access to credit while majority (84.7%, 73.9% and 72%) and about 60% were married. About 55%, 36%, 30.5% and 26.1% from Igbomina, Oyo, Ijesa, and Ife respectively had easy access to land while majority (82%, 70.7%, 72.5% and 66.1%) had full control over land usage. Further results showed that majority (80% and 72.5%) and many (63.5% and 61.9%) from Igbomina, Ijesa, Ife and Oyo sub-ethnic groups respectively had high level of land accessibility. Significant differences in land accessibility (F=3.517, p≤ 0.05) existed among sub-ethnic groups. The study therefore concluded that accessibilities to land, rights to land and control over land differ among sub-ethnic groups in the study area. It was therefore recommended that local community leaders should formulate indigenous policies that would ensure fair access to land irrespective of the sub-ethnic background.

Keywords

• land, land accessibility, land control, land rights and sub-ethnic groups