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Abstract
The study examines the effect of Land Use Act of 1978 and its effect on Land Ownership dispute in Anambra State, Nigeria. The study also examined the inherent problems of Land Use act as well as importance of the act since its inception. The economy of a country also depends on land for its survivor. To make land in Nigeria available to all and to ensure that land is acquired and put to a proper use for the needed development, governments during and after colonial period enacted the Land Use Act to govern the use or administration of land in Nigeria. Land policy affects the economy of a nation either positively or negatively depending on how effectively the policy is implemented. The Land Use Act was enacted in 1978 with the aim of improving economic development by ensuring effective and equitable utilization of land and land resources in the country. However, achieving this objective has been hampered by two major obstacles. The study adopted survey research method, the study adopted system theory. The findings revealed inherent contradictions and defects in the law, and the second is institutional weakness and lack of political will to implement the Act fairly and equitably. However, the Land Use Act of 1978 (LUA) has failed to achieve some of its objectives. The failure is ascribed to problems inherent in the Act and poor implementation. To secure economic development and easy access to land by both government and the citizens, the study recommend the amendment of certain provisions of the Act as well as government to implement the amended version of the Act in a fair and equitable way. Keywords: Land ownership, dispute resolution, 1978 Land Use Act