Public Perception of the Effectiveness of Traditional Rulers in Mediating Land Disputes and Promoting Social Stability in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined public perception of the effectiveness of traditional rulers in mediating land disputes and promoting social stability in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study was motivated by persistent land-related disputes arising from competing claims over ownership, boundaries, inheritance, allocation and use, despite the continued involvement of traditional institutions in community-level dispute resolution. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The study population comprised approximately 12.5 million adult residents aged 18 years and above in Lagos State. In contrast, the final valid sample comprised 351 respondents drawn through a multistage sampling procedure covering all 20 Local Government Areas. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with five substantive items measuring respondents' perceptions of traditional rulers' effectiveness in mediating land disputes. The instrument underwent expert content validation and yielded a Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of .86. On the four-point response scale, a mean of 2.51 or above indicated agreement. Respondents generally perceived traditional rulers as effective in mediating land disputes and contributing to social stability, with a grand mean of 2.92. The strongest perceptions concerned reduced need for court intervention (M = 3.11, SD = 0.98) and prevention of escalation of land and boundary conflicts (M = 3.05, SD = 0.96). The study concludes that traditional rulers remain relevant complementary actors in land-dispute mediation and recommends stronger collaboration among traditional institutions, courts and land-administration agencies, alongside capacity building in mediation and contemporary land-governance procedures.