Land Accessibility: The Burden on Socio – Economic Livelihood of Women in Akpor Clan, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria.

The study examined the land accessibility and its attendant burden on the socio – economic livelihood of the Women in Akpor Clan in Obio/Akpor LocalGovernment Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to identify the factors responsible for land use change towards lack of sustainable land access. Highlight the extent this unfavourable trend affect the Socio – Economic livelihood of women in the study Area. The sample population was 330 indigenous women of low economic standing, who most often, are involved in subsistent farming. A multi – stage probability sampling approach was utilized in the study.The primary data source entailed the use of structured questionnaire and the focus group discussions. The secondary data source is through reviewing of other pertinent research output on women access to land. The study found somewhat erratic nevertheless decisive decline in the income of the household.The pluralism of land rights remains in the hands of male folk and government institution. Also, the original occupational pursuit of farming has ceased to be important because the land use change has occupied the indigenous farmland which leads to socio – economic livelihood burden. Unemployment accounts for more than half of the active population. The women are compelled to join informal jobs in order to maintain household needs.The following recommendations are therefore made; the government should seek to be explicit as possible in determining the conditions under which the women can assert their rights. Purposeful and adequate participation is necessary in decision making for the women to have opportunity to dialogue on how best farmland can be accessed. The process of expropriation should be clear, and adequate compensation to those who own land should be encouraged. Credit programmes and savings, targeting women to upscale economic opportunity will curb the socio – economic burden experienced. Keywords: land, accessibility, socio – economic, livelihood, wome

Federalism and Good Governance in Nigeria: The Nexus

The paper contends that the Nigerian State can exploit the virtues of federalism to promote good governance within her territory. Nigeria being a heterogeneous, linguistic, religious and ethnically diversified country adopted federalism as a system of government with regional autonomy in 1954 in order to give every component unit of the federation a sense of belonging. Sequel to this, the paper looked at the concept of federalism and good governance, the virtues of federalism, and how these virtues can be exploited to achieve good governance in Nigeria. In its recommendations, the paper suggested a constitutional amendment procedure that will not only guarantee the autonomy of the federating units, but will also deepen the current democratic culture and sustain the fight against corruption. It also suggested a restructuring of the revenue sharing formula in the country so that the federating units can own land and mineral resources within their territorial jurisdiction thus encouraging interstate commerce and economic cooperation.