1.0 INTRODUCTION
Tenure security is often more important than legal classifications of land ownership. Tenure security refers to the assurance aspects of property rights, or the expectation that rights will be protected or renewed. It depends both upon the robustness of the rights but also upon a legal and political environment that supports property rights (Susana, 2010). So, it can be said that is the enforceable claims on land supported by national regulatory frameworks. Also,
land tenure is the political, economic, social, and legal structure that determines how individuals and groups access and use land and related resources including trees, minerals, pasture, and water. Land tenure rules define how rights to use, control, and transfer land and resources are allocated within societies (Gregory, 2013). Land is fundamental to the lives the rural poor people, a source of food, shelter, income and social identity. Secure access to land reduces vulnerability to hunger and poverty. But for many of the world's poor rural people in developing countries, access is becoming more tedious than ever (IFAD 2011).
According to IFAD report in 2011 there are about 1.3 billion extremely poor people in the world, struggling to survive on less than US$1.25 a day. About 70 percent of this population lives in the rural areas of developing countries. In rural societies, the poorest people often have weak or unprotected tenure rights. They therefore risk losing land they depend on to more powerful neighbours, to private companies domestic or foreign and even to members of their own family. For example, when irrigation is introduced into previously rain fed farmland or roads are built to link farmers to markets, the new economic potential of the land makes it more attractive and small-scale producers can lose out to more affluent or powerful settlers. Celia (2003) observed that land tenure rules, norms and institutions govern access to land and it is has been considered one of the key factors that define patterns and change in land-use systems. However, lack of defined land tenure systems has contributed to increased deforestation in several regions throughout the world (Alston et al., 1999). While Alston et al. (1999) pointed out that lack of defined land tenure is likely to drive individuals to use land in an abusive way. It also allows people to diversify their livelihoods by using their land as
collateral, or for outright sell it. Tenure issues affect the everyday choices of the rural poor women and men, such as which crops to grow and whether crops are grown for subsistence or commercial purposes. They influence the extent to which farmers are prepared to invest in the long-term wellbeing of their land or to adopt new technologies and innovations. Measures to increase tenure security must be complemented by pro-poor policies, services and investments. Policies beyond the national level are needed to address such issues as use of irrigation water, migration, pastoralism and conflicts that cut across regional and national
boundaries.
1.1 THE STUDY AREA
Abia State is a state in south-eastern Nigeria. Abia is an acronym formed from the initial letters of four groups of people, namely: Aba, Bende, Isuikwuato and Afikpo. These constituted the major groups in the state at its creation. At the country's independence in 1960, Abia was part of the then Eastern Region. From 27th May, 1967, it became a part of the East Central State, created by the then Head of the Federal Military Government, General Yakubu Gowon. On 3rd February, 1976, East Central State was split into two states (Anambra and Imo) by the Federal Military Government headed by General Murtala
Mohammed. On 27th August, 1991, the Federal Military Government under General lbrahim Babangida carved out Abia State from Imo State, bringing to thirty the number of states in Nigeria.
Furthermore, in October, 1996, the Federal Military Government under General Sani Abacha created six more states bringing to thirty-six the number of states in the federation. During this exercise, four local government areas (LGAs) namely, Onicha, Ohaozara, Afikpo North and Afikpo South, which occupy the northeastern corner of the state, were transferred to the (newly created) Ebonyi State. The state covers an area of about 5,243.7 sq. km which is approximately 5.8 per cent of the total land area of Nigeria. With its capital at Umuahia, it has seventeen LGAs, namely: Aba North, Aba South, Isiala-Ngwa North, Isiala-Ngwa South, Ukwa West, Ukwa East, Obingwa, Ikwuano, Bende, Arochukwu, Ohafia, Isuikwuato, Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Ugwunagbor, Osisioma and Nnochi. Despite that the capital is Umuahia; the major commercial city is Aba, formerly a British colonial government
outpost. The state was created in August 27th 1991 from Imo State and predominantly by Igbo people (95% of population). Abia State is amongst the Niger Delta State of Nigeria as it is located within the Niger basin and rich in hydrocarbon deposits.
1.2 LOCATION
Abia State is located in the Southeastern region of Nigeria, it lies within approximately latitudes 4º 40′ and 6º14′ north, and longitudes 7º10′ and 8º 00' east. The state is bounded to the north by Ebonyi State; to the south and southwest with Rivers State, to the east and southeast with Cross River, Akwa lbom States respectively while to the west is Imo State, and to the northwest is Anambra State. Figure 1.0 Abia State showing the LGAS (Source: Chigbu et al, 2015)
1.3 SOILS AND VEGETATION
The soils of Abia State fall within the broad group of ferrallitic soils of the coastal plain sand and escarpment. Other soil types include alluvial soils found along the low terrace of the Cross River and other rivers. The soils are not particularly fertile and are prone to mulching, leaching because of heavy rainfall. The main ecological problems in the state are sheet and gully erosion.The vegetation in Abia State is ordinarily considered part of tropical rain forest which is the dominant natural vegetation in most parts of southern Nigeria. The northern part of the State has rich Savannah vegetation of which the bamboo is a typical grass species. The economic trees of the rainforest community are extremely numerous in species and varied in sizes, but the oil palm appears to be the most important. The southern part of the State lies within the riverine part of Nigeria. It is low-lying tropical rain forest with some oil-palm
brush.
1.4 RELIEF AND DRAINAGE
Abia State has a variety of land forms, despite the fact that it is dominated by flat and low-
lying land, generally less than 120m above sea-level. The low-lying plain is the inland extension of the coastal plain from the Bight of Benin. The central part of the state is characterized by undulating land with many hills. The highland areas are part of the Enugu - Nsukka - Okigwe. This area has an average height of between 120m and 180m above sea-level. From Okigwe (Imo State), this escarpment extends in a west-east direction and, on getting to Afikpo (Ebonyi State), veers south-eastwards to Arochukwu where it terminates.
There are nine main geological formations from south to north. These include:
- The Benin formation (or Coastal Plain Sand),
- The Bende-Ameki Group,
- The Nkporo Shale Group,
- The Nsukka formation (Upper Coal Measures),
- The Igali sandstone (False- bedded Sandstone),
- The Eze-Azu Shale Group and,
- The Asu River Group.
Its rainfall is about 2,400 millimeters (94 in) per year especially intense between the months of April through October. The rest of the State is moderately high plain and wooded savanna. The most important rivers in Abia State are the Imo and Aba Rivers which flow into the Atlantic Ocean through the Niger Delta.The principal rivers in Abia State are the Imo River and its tributary, the Aba River. Imo River originates from the northwestern part of the state and flows southwest through Abia and Imo state territories towards the Atlantic Ocean, passing through the southern parts of Ukwa-West and Ukwa-East local government areas.
Other important rivers include lgwu, Azurnini Blue River and Akwaibo River.
1.5 CLIMATE
There are two seasons in the year, namely: the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season begins in March and ends in October with a break in August usually referred to as the "little dry season." The dry season which lasts for four months begins in November. Heavy thunderstorms are characteristic of the onset of the rainy season. The total rainfall decreases from 2200mm in the i.e. south to 1900mm in the north. The hottest months as are January to
March when the mean temperature it is above 27ºC. The relative humidity is usually high throughout the year, reaching a maximum during the rainy season when values above ninety per cent are recorded.
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