CHAPTER ONE

1.1    PREAMBLE

In recent times there has been a rapant growth of towns and cities in this country. This growth has been accompanied with an ever increasing physical social and the technological changes as well as complex Urban Pattern of development.

This fast development with its attendant sprawling effects on the original settlement and town out skirted always cause some land use congestion. Personal and political pressures etc. within and around the area involved. In 1976, Owerri became the capital of the then creates Imo State. Almost immediately,  the original settlement which were more or less residential / agricultural areas became engulfed with the fast sprawling development in Owerri.

However the morphology of these land activities in the area was observed not be the function of only the original settlement patten, but also a function of the government policies so in relation to the development of the area. These policies so in relation to the development of the area. These policies and their subsequent implementation in no small measure, contributed to the Owerri Urban with their resultant effects on the indigenous other inhabitants of the area, as the existing facilities in the area.

1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The main problem of this study was to examine and evaluate the physical, social and economic effect of land use activities in its present location in Owerri Urban and recommend solution to the problems identified, because there has been series of criticism against the manner by which land was allocated to people in Owerri Urban

1.3    AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

This research work aimed towards recognizing the existing land use situation in Owerri Urban and thus high lighting the implications and results of previous development programmes and their implications. This will then severs as basis for formulating a more functional and efficient planning programmes for the area. The objectives are;

1. To evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the allocation procedures.

2. To identified the achievements and shortcoming of the procedure.

3. To suggest possible means of implementing better land used and allocation procedure.

1.4       RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The postulation of this study was that conflicts of interest often arise between political planners and the physical planners in the planning and executive of land use activities therefore and allocation procedure in Owerri is defective.

1.5    RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

In this study, case study research method was to be used. Important information were get through the use of primary and secondary sources like interviews questionnaires observation, journals and books on related topic. These will be distributed to Estate surveyors, lawyers, town planners, civil servants and residents of government layout. Data collected will be analyzed statistically with percentage and chi – square..

1.7    SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The significance of study was to serve as a guide to land experts v12 Estate surveyors, lawyers etc. on the land for efficient utilization of the available land in Owerri urban. It will also help in educating the public. On the various taken by such commute to use and maintain the zoning ordinances, for uniformity in the development process of the capital city.

1.8       DEFINITION OF SOME IMPORTANT TERMS

LAND USE:-       Land itself is a genetic term that include the physical soil and all improvement on it such as plants, building e.t.c. the use to which any parcel of land is put to accordance to the various human activities is known as Land use.

MORPHOLOGY: Structure  of an activity or element

SPRAWL:   Urban sprawl is the irregular development of cities without apparent plan to the east, west, north and south.

URBAN:    A town/city—which supply a wide rang of good and service to it’s country side.