An Assessment of Gender Deprivation in Land Allocation for Residential Property Development in Selected States of North Central Nigeria

Abstract

This study assesses the extent, determinants, and institutional dimensions of gender deprivation in land allocation for residential property development in selected states of North Central Nigeria. A mixed-method research design was adopted. Data were collected from 354 respondents comprising land applicants, estate developers, and officials from state land administration agencies. Descriptive statistics, Relative Importance Index (RII), chi-square analysis, and logistic regression modeling were employed. Results show that women constituted only 28.4% of land Allotees between 2015 and 2024. Patriarchal inheritance practices (RII = 0.892), high documentation costs (RII = 0.861), bureaucratic bottlenecks (RII = 0.833), and limited access to mortgage finance (RII = 0.801) were identified as major determinants. Logistic regression results reveal that income level, education, awareness of land rights, and marital status significantly influence women’s probability of securing residential land allocation (p < 0.05). The study concludes that gender deprivation is structurally embedded in socio-cultural norms and institutional inefficiencies despite formal legal equality. Policy reforms toward gender-responsive land governance, digital land administration, subsidized titling processes, and affirmative allocation frameworks are recommended.