When a large expanse of land is bought by a real estate firm or a community marks out a portion of land to put on sale...the normal procedure should be..
1. A surveyor surveys and marks out the entire land area and produces a plan showing the size , shape and extent of the land...in some cases topographical details..
2. The plan is handed over to the Town planners who then design the layout...lands are subdivided...allocating spaces for utilities...roads...commercial areas...areas for schools...churches..police station and even parks as the case maybe .
3. After this the surveyor returns to site to lay down the layout as designed,a process known as setting out.
With these steps taken it means any owner of land already has his land marked out...the roads also would have been set out therefore preventing the likelihood of encroachment by greedy land owners or fraudulent community chiefs.
In developed nations however it doesn't end here...the moment the layout is approved by local and govt agencies and all levies and taxes paid...government fulfils it responsibility by doing the following;
1. Government and necessary bodies get into the area and provide utilities....yes!even before the lands are bought...water pipes are connected to each plot...electricity is provided into the area...gas companies connect their gas lines and even roads are paved and marked.....all these are done before the property is put on sale.
2. Local governments name the streets and give each plot a number ...yes! Before the first person moves in.
3. Post office service erect post mail boxes upon completion of building .
4. Parks are built...pedestrian walkways constructed and underground driamgae systems set out.
All these things are put into consideration even before people buy the lands and move in...this provides for a well layed out community,you would agree that the moment people begin to develop on the land some of these would be almost impossible to do,the reason why it must be done before people take possession of the land.
In Nigeria , the reverse is the case....LAND owners cut and sell lands without any well planned layout...in some states there is hardly land registration taking place ,those who purchased the land then go in and develop sometimes without any approvals...some build into the roads and then it takes 10 years after people live in the settlement before government paves the roads or even provides water and electricity.. ..all these contribute into making our settlements big Shithole.
State and local governments have to wake up to responsibilities and insist that any property to be approved must come from a well designed layout meeting all approved standards.
Government in turn as to wake up to its responsibilities and provide utilities and amenities even before residents move in ,these improves the value of The land and also the land tax that comes to government upon approval.
Don't tell me it cannot happen in Nigeria...just tell me we have misfits occupying government offices in Nigeria....but one day soon....things would happen right.
