Land Use Policy and Local Government Development Planning in Kogi State: A Case Study of Lokoja Local Government Area

This research examines how land use policies influence local government development planning in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State, North Central Nigeria. Land is a fundamental resource for development, yet the administration of land use in Nigerian local government areas is hampered by conflicting regulations under the Land Use Act of 1978, customary land tenure systems, and weak implementation capacity at the grassroots level. The study adopts a survey design supplemented with documentary analysis, collecting data from 190 respondents including local government land officers, town planners, real estate developers, and community elders. Theoretical grounding draws on the Property Rights Theory and the Urban Land Economics Framework. Secondary data is sourced from the Kogi State Ministry of Lands and Housing, Federal Capital Territory boundary documents, and recent academic literature on land governance in Nigeria. Descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis are used to analyze findings. The study examines the effect of land disputes, rezoning challenges, and inadequate land registration on local government's ability to attract investment and execute planned development projects. Findings are expected to highlight the need for land tenure reform to align with contemporary development planning requirements. Recommendations include digitization of land records, community sensitization on land rights, and harmonization of state and customary land laws. Keywords: Land use policy, development planning, Lokoja, local government, Kogi State.