For millions of Nigerians, buying land has long been a high-risk venture marked by disputed titles, multiple sales of the same property, and years of costly litigation. In a country where land is both a primary store of wealth and a foundation for housing and infrastructure, the absence of reliable records has quietly crippled confidence in the real estate market.
Industry analysts estimate that Nigeria loses more than N36 trillion every year to untitled and disputed land, capital that could otherwise support housing delivery, urban development, and economic growth. In fast-growing urban corridors such as Lagos and Ogun States, land-related fraud cases run into hundreds of thousands annually, exposing families and investors to financial ruin.
A new partnership between the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) and Sytemap Technologies Limited is now positioning digital mapping and verification as a potential solution to this long-standing problem. The agreement, sealed on December 18, 2025, brings together REDAN’s nationwide network of verified developers and Sytemap’s digital land and property infrastructure.
At the heart of the collaboration is the use of technology to replace fragmented, paper-based processes with a unified digital system where properties can be listed, mapped, verified, and tracked. Through RightHOME, a digital platform backed by Sytemap, registered developers will be onboarded to provide verified property listings supported by geospatial mapping and transaction records.
“This partnership is about restoring confidence. When developers, buyers, and regulators operate on a trusted digital foundation, everyone benefits, from ordinary Nigerians buying their first home to institutional investors backing large developments,” said HRM Oba Akintoye Adeoye, speaking at the signing ceremony.
Digital mapping plays a critical role in this shift. By accurately identifying land boundaries and linking them to verified ownership data, the technology helps prevent multiple allocations and conflicting claims. When combined with transaction tracking and fraud-prevention systems, each property becomes traceable from listing to sale, creating an auditable trail that can be referenced by buyers and authorities alike.
For everyday Nigerians, the implications are practical and immediate. Verified listings reduce the risk of buying contested land, while clearer records shorten transaction timelines that often stretch into years. Developers also benefit from lower friction in sales and improved buyer confidence, a factor that could unlock fresh investment into housing projects.
Nnamdi Uba, Sytemap’s chief executive officer, described the collaboration as more than a technical upgrade, adding that, “This is not just about technology. It’s about dignity, security, and peace of mind for people investing their life savings. REDAN’s endorsement is a powerful signal that the industry is ready for a better way.”
Ndifreke Ikokpu, COO at Sytemap signed on behalf of Sytemap, while Cholatte Odunlade-Akeji, CEO of RightHome, signed on behalf of the Special Purpose Vehicle.
As urbanisation accelerates and Nigeria’s middle class expands, demand for secure property ownership is rising. While technology alone cannot resolve all land governance challenges, the REDAN–Sytemap partnership highlights how digital mapping and verification could begin to fix one of Nigeria’s most broken markets by replacing uncertainty with transparency and trust.
