This article traced the theoretical origins of the legal regime of the current land rights in Nigeria. It argues that the configuration of the federal system of government is influenced by institutional theory which has systematically evolved from the era of colonisation backed by the unstable national affinity to the modernisation theory. Both theoretical pivots have given false hope of developing a prosperous national economy that wholly rely on investment in crude oil which required unwavering control of lands. The article posits that, the current state of affair with regards to land use, land ownership rights and the unitary control of land through coercive legislation is consistent with the suggestions of the dependency theory. Therefore, that Nigeria’s land laws have evolved to a point of increased uncertainty of tenure for private and communal entities. The article further highlights the deep-rooted effects of institutional capture flowing from the theoretical origin of Nigeria’s laws and policy formulations on infrastructure including land rights. In conclusion, this article excavated the paradoxes of the laws governing land use and land ownership rights in Nigeria by emphasizing that the true nature and effects of the extant land laws in the country should be evaluated based on its functions and not its form, hence to understand and correct the defectiveness of the land laws, there should be detachment from the false normative expectations about institutional appearance.
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