Analysis of Vacant Land Value Variations in Zaria Urban Area, Nigeria

Abstract

The Zaria urban area in Kaduna State has been a centre for several socioeconomic activities. This has therefore
attracted population from far and near. Consequently, the area has witnessed increased demand for land for
housing and other purposes, thus, leading to a continuous rise in land value – both over space and time. Using
questionnaire administered on estate dealers/agents, this study tried to analyse the spatio-temporal pattern of
vacant land value in the area. Findings revealed that lands around areas occupied by the elites, notably the
Government Reserve Area (GRA) had higher values than the others, while over time the values have been
continuously on the rise, until the period after 2012, when the values went down by an average of -20%, due to
the security challenges that bedeviled the area and indeed the country as a whole. It was suggested that the
Kaduna State government should start the idea of land banking that would take care of all class or category of
people at reasonable rates, so that the housing shortage being witnessed can be ameliorated.