From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Amid ongoing land title revocations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has sounded the alarm over Nigeria’s sluggish land registration process, revealing that in 140 years, less than 10 per cent of the country’s land has been formally registered.
Speaking at the National Land Registration and Documentation Programme (NLRDP) workshop in Abuja on Wednesday, Dangiwa also revealed that the government seeks to increase the formalization of land transactions from less than 10 percent to over 50 percent in the next 10 years.
According to him, since the inception of formal land registration in Nigeria in 1883, the process has been conducted under a non-compulsory sporadic system, which is slow, cumbersome, opaque, and expensive for the average landowner.
“It is no surprise, therefore, that less than 10 percent of the entire land in our country has been registered in 140 years,” he said.
The minister noted that over 90 percent of land in Nigeria, which could have generated over $300 billion, remains untitled.
This, he said, would expand the formal economy, enhance the capacity to track and regulate land markets, and improve access to credit for citizens and businesses. “For state governments, it will increase revenue from formal land transactions, improve land market efficiency, and empower marginalized groups, such as women and youth, through formal land ownership,” he said.
According to him, the government will train and deploy technically competent land registration officers nationwide. This, Dangiwa explained, will standardize land administration processes, reduce dependency on external consultants, and improve public service delivery.
“For state governments, it will create a skilled workforce capable of handling complex land registration and titling processes, ensure faster and more efficient service delivery, and strengthen collaboration with federal agencies,” the minister noted.
Consequently, the government is planning to develop and launch a National Digital Land Information System (NDLIS) to modernize land administration. This system, according to the minister, will centralize and digitize land records, reducing bureaucracy and corruption in land transactions. “For the Federal Government, it will improve efficiency, enabling faster processing of land titles and registrations, while for state governments, it will streamline processes, reduce delays, and improve access to accurate and up-to-date land information.
“Let me be clear, this initiative respects the jurisdictional independence of state governments. Our role is to establish a uniform framework that enables states to build credible, efficient, and interoperable land titling and registration systems, fostering nationwide integration and functionality.
To achieve these objectives, the ministry in 2024 solicited and secured the World Bank’s collaboration on the project,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, commended the Ministry of Housing and assured that the National Assembly would support the project.
“As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, I strongly support the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as Geographic Information System (GIS) and blockchain into the land registration process. These innovations will enhance efficiency, ensure greater transparency, and secure transactions, reducing disputes and fostering public confidence in the system,” Tambuwal said.
The World Bank, represented by Senior Special Assistant Michael Ilesami, stated that the project aligns with the bank’s vision to eradicate poverty and pledged its support.