Land Ownership, Mineral Development and Agriculture in Nigeria : An Examination of Key Issues and Challenges

This paper analyzes the interface between mineral development and agriculture in the context of land ownership and control in Nigeria. It critically examines the key issues regarding land ownership and control, examines the rules governing use of land for mineral development under the Nigerian Petroleum Act and the Minerals and Mining Act, and examines the nature of the rights granted to oil and gas and mineral operators with a view to ascertaining how these interface with the rights of agricultural landowners. The overall aim is to identify and analyze how the conflict between mineral development and agriculture can be reconciled in Nigeria within the context of land ownership and control