Petroleum Infrastructure and Land Acquisition Law: Compensation Disputes in Kaduna State

This study examines land acquisition and compensation disputes arising from petroleum infrastructure development in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria, with reference to pipeline right-of-way acquisitions by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. The Land Use Act 1978 governs compulsory land acquisition in Nigeria, but its application to petroleum infrastructure projects continues to generate litigation and community conflict. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research reviews twenty-five land compensation cases from the Kaduna State High Court and Federal High Court (Kaduna Division) decided between 2019 and 2024. These are supplemented with interviews conducted with six legal practitioners and four community representatives from Kaduna South and Zaria LGAs. Findings reveal persistent undervaluation of compensation awards, delays in payment, and a lack of community consultation prior to land access. The study recommends reform of the Land Use Act to mandate market-value compensation and independent valuation processes for petroleum infrastructure projects. These findings are timely given Nigeria's ongoing investment in new petroleum infrastructure traversing non-core producing states. Keywords: land acquisition, Land Use Act, compensation, petroleum infrastructure, Kaduna State.