The Federal Government has revealed that less than 10% of Nigeria’s land has been officially documented in the last 140 years.
Speaking at the National Land Registration and Documentation Programme workshop in Abuja, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, highlighted the challenges of land documentation in Nigeria.
Challenges in Land Registration
Dangiwa noted that land registration in Nigeria has followed a sporadic, non-compulsory system since its inception in 1883, making the process slow, costly, and inaccessible to many landowners.
“It is no surprise that in 140 years, less than 10% of land in Nigeria has been registered,” he stated.
The minister warned that over 90% of Nigeria’s land remains unregistered, leaving landowners unable to use their property as collateral for financial growth.
“Experts estimate that this has resulted in over $300 billion in dead capital. Addressing this issue is crucial for economic transformation,” he added.
Government’s Solution: Digitisation and Reform
To tackle these challenges, the Federal Government is partnering with the private sector to accelerate land registration and documentation across the country.
The government plans to:
Launch a national digital land information system to modernise land administration.
Increase formal land transactions to boost economic opportunities.
Train land registration officers to improve efficiency.
Implement systematic land titling to ensure all land parcels are documented.
“We aim to register, document, and title all land parcels to unlock Nigeria’s dead capital and empower landowners,” Dangiwa explained.
World Bank Pledges Support
The World Bank has thrown its weight behind the initiative, expressing confidence that the reforms will enhance Nigeria’s investment climate.
Speaking on behalf of the World Bank Country Director, Senior Special Development Specialist Dr. Michael Ilesanmi reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting the programme.
“This initiative aligns with the World Bank’s vision to eradicate poverty and unlock economic opportunities at national and sub-national levels,” he said.
Public-Private Partnerships to Drive Progress
Dangiwa emphasised that public-private partnerships (PPP) will be crucial in mobilising resources and expertise.
“Digitised land administration presents significant investment opportunities. We must adopt successful PPP models tailored to the Nigerian context,” he noted.
The initiative aims to increase land registration from the current 10% to over 50% within a decade, improving access to credit, investment, and internally generated revenue for states.
Dangiwa assured stakeholders that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has the political will to execute the reforms successfully.
“With the support of the World Bank, we are on the cusp of making history in Nigeria,” he added.
