The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has highlighted the strategic role of comprehensive land reforms in driving Nigeria’s economic transformation, particularly in job creation, urban renewal and enhanced revenue generation at the sub-national level.
Speaking during a recent high-level strategic dialogue in Abuja with a delegation from the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Edun emphasised that modernising Nigeria’s urban development framework through land titling, spatial planning, and documentation is essential to attracting investment and fostering public-private partnerships.
“Land reform is central to unlocking the immense potential of our cities. It is not only about ownership and security; it’s about stimulating economic activity, creating jobs, boosting internally generated revenue, and enabling sustainable partnerships between government and the private sector,” Edun said.
The meeting, held in the Minister’s office, was led by Mr. Mathias Spaliviero, UN-Habitat’s African Regional Director. The visit formed part of a broader initiative to support Nigeria’s urban development goals, particularly in making cities more investable, inclusive, and resilient.
UN-Habitat commended the Nigerian government’s renewed commitment to the Nigeria Land Titling and Documentation Programme, a flagship initiative designed to enhance land tenure security, expand the national tax base, and unlock private capital across critical sectors including real estate, agriculture, and logistics.
Mr. Spaliviero noted that land reforms, especially those that prioritize transparency and inclusion, are foundational to sustainable urban development. “We strongly support Nigeria’s efforts in improving land governance. Secure land tenure and efficient spatial planning are fundamental to building livable cities and attracting long-term investment,” he said.
The discussions also touched on the urgent need to integrate climate resilience, infrastructure planning, and housing into the country’s broader economic strategy, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Both parties agreed that better land management practices could enable cities to not only accommodate population growth but also drive productivity and innovation.
Mr. Edun welcomed UN-Habitat’s technical support in shaping investable urban environments, noting that Nigeria stands to benefit greatly from a systematic and transparent approach to land use and city planning.
º“We are at a point where effective land reform will determine the future of our urban economy. With the right support and political will, we can transform our cities into engines of inclusive growth,” he added.