Nigeria launches digital land system to boost economic growth
The Federal Government has announced plans to train and deploy technically skilled land registration officers nationwide to reduce reliance on external consultants and enhance service delivery.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, during a workshop on National Land Registration and Documentation in Abuja.
Mr Dangiwa explained that the initiative aims to build a capable workforce to manage complex land registration and titling processes.
He emphasised the government’s commitment to establishing a uniform framework in collaboration with state governments to ensure faster and more efficient land services.
As part of the reforms, the Federal Government plans to develop and launch a National Digital Land Information System to modernise land administration.
The Minister also revealed an ambitious goal to increase formalised land transactions from less than 10% to over 50% within the next decade.
Highlighting the urgency of the initiative, Mr Dangiwa noted that less than 10% of Nigeria’s land has been registered in the past 140 years.
“Over 90% of land in Nigeria is unregistered and untitled, making it impossible for landowners to leverage their assets for economic purposes.
Experts estimate this has resulted in a dead capital exceeding $300 billion. Addressing this issue is critical for economic transformation,” he stated.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, outlined the workshop’s objectives, which include leveraging technology for land digitisation to improve data security, facilitate ease of doing business, and enhance investment opportunities.
He expressed optimism that the programme would unlock the potential of land assets, enable access to credit facilities, and reduce land disputes across the country.
The World Bank Country Director, Ddiame Diop, represented by Senior Special Development Specialist Dr Michael Illesanmi, commended the Ministry for the initiative and pledged continued support to achieve its goals.
Similarly, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development, assured the National Assembly’s commitment to supporting reforms in the sector to boost socio-economic development.
This initiative marks a significant step toward addressing long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s land administration system, with the potential to unlock billions in economic value.
Reporting by Philip Ichaba; Editing by Muzha Kucha
