How responsible are land acquisitions for megaprojects in global south cities?

Abstract

The pursuit of modernisation and development has significantly fuelled the proliferation of megaprojects in the Global South over the past decade. While these projects are often initiated to address pressing societal challenges, the impacts on affected communities are frequently overlooked during the planning phase. Although substantial research has explored the scope, outcomes, and failures of megaprojects globally, limited attention has been given to the land acquisition process—arguably the most critical and complex stage. This study examines the land acquisition process for the Ibadan Circular Road Project (ICRP), the largest infrastructure investment in Oyo State, Nigeria, in the past 50 years. Two diagnostic frameworks are employed: the Responsible Land Management (RLM) framework and the Risks and Reconstruction Model (RRM). The RLM framework is used to assess the extent to which the ICRP aligns with principles of responsible land management, while the RRM is applied to identify risks (i.e., manifestations of irresponsibility) associated with displacement. A qualitative research design was adopted, involving interviews with affected residents and planning practitioners. Media content—sourced from online newspapers and television reports—was also leveraged and analysed thematically. Findings indicate that the land acquisition process for the ICRP fails to meet most of the responsibility criteria outlined in the RLM framework. While the project seeks to alleviate traffic congestion in Ibadan—thus meeting the responsiveness criterion—it lacks key elements such as resilience, robustness, reliability, reflexivity, retraceability, and respect for affected communities. Unlike many other megaprojects, the displacement associated with the ICRP has resulted in the realisation of all risks predicted by the RRM model, including landlessness, homelessness, marginalisation, among others. The study discusses the nuances of these irresponsibilities and offers practical recommendations to improve land acquisition practices in future megaprojects, particularly within the context of urban development in the Global South.