Investigating the Role of Community Land Trusts in Affordable Housing Provision: Lessons for Nigerian Cities

Community land trusts represent an innovative land governance model that has shown promise internationally in addressing housing affordability by separating ownership of land from that of improvements. This study investigates the conceptual applicability of community land trust models to Nigerian urban housing contexts, using secondary literature review and comparative case study analysis. The research draws on documented experiences of community land trusts from South Africa, Kenya, and international precedents, and applies lessons to three Nigerian urban contexts namely Lagos, Kano, and Enugu, selected to represent diverse geopolitical zones and housing market conditions. Data were collected primarily through review of published scholarly literature, policy documents, and reports from housing advocacy organizations. Key informant interviews were conducted with urban planning academics and affordable housing practitioners in each selected city to assess contextual feasibility and identify barriers. The study evaluates existing Nigerian land tenure legislation under the 1978 Land Use Act and identifies provisions that could accommodate or constrain community land trust structuring. Findings are expected to highlight significant potential for community land trust models in Nigerian cities, but note critical barriers including state government land control, limited civic organizational capacity, and absence of legislative frameworks for non-profit land stewardship. Recommendations outline a roadmap for piloting community land trusts in urban renewal zones, supported by enabling legislation, technical assistance programs, and international development partnerships. Keywords: Community land trust, Affordable housing, Land governance, Nigeria, Housing policy.