Nigeria is grappling with about $300 billion debt burden placed on its shoulders by poor and inefficient land administration and documentation systems in the country.
Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, who disclosed this recently at the National Land Registration and Documentation Programme (NLRDP) in Abuja, also revealed that over 90 percent of land in Nigeria remains unregistered, preventing landowners from leveraging their assets for economic development.
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The minister recalled that since the formal land administration in Nigeria in 1883, the system has remained non-compulsory, slow, and costly for the average citizen.
He stressed the need to revamp the work of the Projection and Technical Committee on Land Reforms, which was established in 2009, to build upon its comprehensive efforts in addressing the country’s land governance challenges.
Dangiwa noted that inefficient property registration processes have led to a situation where less than 10 percent of land in Nigeria is officially registered.
He called on state governments to support efforts to address these challenges, emphasizing that a systemic and transparent land administration framework is crucial for economic growth.
The minister acknowledged the World Bank’s support in advancing land registration reforms, describing their technical expertise, resources, and commitment as invaluable.
He noted that in December 2024, the Ministry developed the framework for the NLRDP, aiming to partner with state governments to achieve three primary goals: entitling all landowners, including non-Nigerians, enabling landowners to use their assets for economic growth, and increasing government revenue through land taxes, registration fees, and other charges.
He emphasized that proper land titling would allow property owners to use their land as collateral for loans, stimulating economic activities.
In a goodwill message, Ndiame Diop, the Country Director of the World Bank, expressed the Bank’s satisfaction with being part of the initiative.
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Represented by Mike Ileanmi, Senior Social Development Specialist, Diop stated that the NLRDP aligns with the World Bank’s vision of poverty eradication.
He affirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in developmental projects and emphasized that the programme would unlock economic potential, both at the national and sub-national levels, making the country more attractive to investors.
Diop reassured the Nigerian government of the Bank’s continued engagement in the land reform agenda, expressing hope that the initiative would yield the desired outcomes in transforming land governance in Nigeria.
