One of the most daunting challenges of urban dwellers today in developing nations is how to promote balance land use that will reduce conflict, abuse, misuse and chaotic location of activities, hence the need for effective land administration system. This study examines the relationship between land administration system and land market development. Using Delta state as a case study, the study adopted a survey research design using a well-structured questionnaire to elicit information from 277 respondents comprising of estate surveyors and Valuers, estate agents/developers and land officers in Asaba, Warri, Sapele and Ughelli in Delta state. Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis with the aid of Statistical package for social science version 21.0. The findings revealed that there is significant relationship between land administration system and land market development in Delta state. It is evident that land administration and land market in the study areas is fraught with various challenges such as market and technical, administrative, cost and legal, financial and bureaucratic challenges. It was also discovered that the identified requirements for effective land administration system were important and indispensable for successful land market operation. The study therefore recommends that the existing policy on land administration should be evaluated to enhance the overall performance of the land administration system in the state; there should the regular updating the land base transaction records to prevent multiple ownership of a parcel; actors in land market should simplify the procedures of transferring land rights; Land transactions should be documented and registered to avoid dispute among land owners and the buyers; government policies and regulations should be strictly enforced as these will enhance land market development in the state; a robust strategy that will ensure long-term sustainable development of an efficient LM is also required for a better and improved land administration that will further enhanced the land market in the State
Keywords: Development, Land market, Urban, land administration
