…………………….Aims to increase land registration process from less than 10% to over 50% in the next 10 years.
…………………….State governments key partners in achieving specific goals – Dangiwa.
The Federal government of Nigeria is set to intensify engagements with the World Bank to implement reforms that would unlock the potentials of Nigeria’s landed assets through the National Land Registration, Documentation, and Titling Programme (NLRDP).
The Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa disclosed this at the workshop on National Land Registration and Documentation Programme (NLRDP), held on Wednesday March 19, 2025, in Abuja.
He decried the long standing challenges Nigeria has faced in land governance which includes; inefficient property registration process which has resulted in less than 10% of land registration in Nigeria, lack of a systematic and credible, framework to identify property ownership, interests, and location, lack of essential infrastructure, Inadequate data for effective land valuation in both urban and rural areas, among others.
The Minister outlined the frameworks devised by the Ministry in collaboration with the State governments to address the challenges to include; registration, documentation, titling of all land parcels to unlock Nigeria’s dead capital, developing a National Digital Land Information System, formalizing land transactions from less than 10% to over 50% in the next 10 years.
He also spoke about Plans to train and deploy technical competence in land administration officers nationwide, emphasizing on collaboration between federal and state governments to establish a uniform framework.
To achieve these objectives, Arc. Dangiwa informed that the Ministry in 2024, solicited the partnership of the World Bank, pointing out that the Bank’s recent technical mission provided invaluable insights into the current state of land administration in Nigeria.
“The findings and recommendations from this mission will serve as the foundation for the discussions and action plans emerging from this workshop”, he said.
Accordingly, The Minister acknowledged that the World Bank’s technical capacity, global best practices, and financial resources were crucial for addressing Nigeria’s land governance challenges.
He noted that a key topic to be discussed at the workshop; “The Implementation of Systematic Land Titling and Registration (SLTR),” would address the current land administration process which is outdated and expensive, leading to less than 10% of the entire land in the country being unregistered since 1883.
“The SLTR allows a systematic identification, demarcation and adjudication of every aspect of land within a jurisdiction in the presence and concurrence of the adjoining parcel owners”, he explained.
He also emphasized on the need to build upon the exhaustive and comprehensive work done by the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reforms (PTCLR ).
Accordingly, he mentioned the significance of legitimizing Systematic Land Titling and Registration under the framework of the Land Use Act (LUA), informing that the Presidential Technical Committee developed land regulations, which included provisions for the STLR.
Dangiwa further informed that the regulations were endorsed by the National Economic Council in May 2017, adding that it was awaiting the approval of the National Council of State.
Similarly, Arc. Dangiwa noted that another key area for discussion is the role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and digital tools in modernizing land administration, highlighting these technologies enhance accuracy, efficiency, and transparency in land registration.
The Minister as well hinted on adopting Public- Private Partnership in land registration and digitization, emphasizing PPPs plays significant role in mobilizing resources and expertise for land administration reforms.
While acknowledging the important roles of traditional and community leaders in land governance and dispute resolution, Arc Dangiwa emphasised the need to develop strategies to integrate customary land tenure into formal registration systems and reduce land disputes.
“Their involvement will ensure that the NLRDP is inclusive and respects the rights of all Nigerians,” he stated.
The Minister also highlighted the exploration of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in land registration and digitization, as well as the role of traditional and community leaders in land governance and dispute resolution.
He further reassured the State Governments, the World Bank and all stakeholders of the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to drive the ongoing transformation in the Nation’s Land Administration.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, stated that the Committee was fully committed to providing robust executive support that would ensure the success of the National Lands Registration and Documentation programme.
According to him, some of these supports include; Land and social frameworks, conducting of oversight functions to ensure accountability, collaborating with state Assemblies to harmonise land related matters, among others.
Also in his goodwill message, the Country Director of the World Bank, Dr. Ndiamé Diop represented by the Senior Social Development Specialist, Dr. Mike Ilesanmi expressed happiness to be part of the initiatives of the National Land Registration and Documentation Program as it aligned with the World Bank’s vision to eradicate poverty.
He noted that the workshop was an initiative that would help unlock investments at the National and sub-national level, further assuring of the Bank’s readiness to continue in the support to get the expected outcome from the program.
Similarly, the Chairman, Land Reform Task Team in his goodwill Rev. Ugochukwu Chime, stated that the Land use act was long overdue for an overhaul, acknowledging the need to have a comfortable land management allocation and execution protocols which is very critical for any development in a nation.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Shuaib Belgore noted that the National Lands Registration and Documentation Programme was a pivotal and significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s land administration system as well as a crucial factor in promoting economic growth, social stability, and national development.
He outlined some key objectives of the programme to include; Ensuring a unified and efficient Land Registration System by working closely with state governments, Land actors and Agencies with the view of creating a standardised approach that will reduce duplication, inconsistencies, and bureaucratic bottlenecks, Leveraging Technology for land digitization which aims at transition from manual to digital land records that improves data security, minimise fraudulent activities, and facilitate ease of doing business in real estate and mortgage sectors in line with global best practices, others.
In his welcome address, the Director, Lands and Housing Development, ESV. Collins Alabi sought the support and cooperation of all states for the successful implementation of the national land registration and documentation program.
He recognized the critical role of the state governments in land administration, encouraging them to align their land administration systems with national and global standards.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders, including State Governments, development partners and professional in the private sector and academia to discuss the way forward in achieving the initiatives.
Signed
Oluseyi Kate Nwachuku
Assistant Director Press and Public Relations
Thursday, 20th March , 2025
