From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Architect Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has said that over 90 per cent of land in Nigeria is untitled.
Speaking when he met with the representative of the Regional UN-Habitat Office, Senior Human Settlement Officer, Mr Mathias Spaliviero, Dangiwa referenced ongoing efforts by the ministry, in partnership with the World Bank, on a national land registration, documentation, and titling programme, aimed at addressing the issue of untitled land, which affects over 90 per cent of land nationwide.
He noted that the UN-Habitat presentation reaffirmed Nigeria’s ongoing urban renewal initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“You came and did a wonderful presentation. For us, it has opened our eyes because, as you are aware, Nigeria is undergoing a transformation in the housing and urban development sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he remarked.
Dangiwa also informed that a major milestone was recorded last week with the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) approval of the reviewed National Urban Development Policy (NUDP), noting that it was developed in close collaboration with UN-Habitat.
He highlighted the administration’s commitment to delivering thousands of housing units through the development of Renewed Hope Cities, Renewed Hope Estates, and Renewed Hope Social Housing, ensuring inclusive access for all income levels.
He further noted that the ministry has embarked on a National Slum Upgrade and Urban Renewal Programme, which targets vulnerable urban communities across the country, affirming that the presentation came at the right time.
He hailed the policy as a forward-thinking framework designed to guide Nigeria’s urban growth in line with global commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), New Urban Agenda, and climate action imperatives.
“The policy provides a clear and forward-looking framework for guiding urban growth in Nigeria. It is in harmony with the SDGs, the New Urban Agenda, and our commitments on climate change,” he said.
Accordingly, the NUDP will be disseminated to state governments to enable them to domesticate the policy in their respective states, and to the Ministries of Works, Environment, and other institutions, which may need the ministry’s guidance.
Dangiwa emphasised that while the policy development phase has been successfully concluded, the real challenge lies in its implementation, appealing to UN-Habitat to transition from being a policy support partner to an implementation partner capable of providing institutional capacity and technical expertise.
“We need the right expertise and institutional support to implement this policy successfully. We still want to count on UN-Habitat, not just as a support expert but as an implementation partner. We will also require your help in recommending experts who can work with the ministry in translating it into tangible, measurable outputs at both the federal and state levels,” he stated.
In a statement, he welcomed UN-Habitat’s Strategic Action Plan on improving land governance, titling, and administration, and expressed Nigeria’s interest in technical support, pilot implementations, and capacity-building initiatives in selected states.
“This presentation has given us hope. One of the most inspiring aspects was your use of streets as a tool for urban transformation in slums. It shows that transforming a cluster of slums can transform an entire city,” he said.
Additionally, while affirming the ministry’s commitment to continued collaboration with UN-Habitat, the World Bank, and other strategic partners, Dangiwa noted that the ministry was on the right path with its slum upgrade and urban renewal programmes.
Furthermore, the minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to UN-Habitat’s vision, including the clearance of outstanding financial obligations.