The Federal Government has unveiled a major initiative to overhaul Nigeria’s land administration system through digitisation. Minister of Housing and Urban Development Ahmed Dangiwa disclosed this at the National Land Registration and Documentation workshop in Abuja, where he noted the urgent need for modernisation in the sector. He emphasised that over 90 percent of land in Nigeria remains unregistered, limiting its utility for economic leverage and resulting in an estimated dead capital of $300 billion. The development, as he noted, is expected to improve property registration, enhance transparency, and unlock notable economic value in unregistered assets.
Furthermore, the new system includes developing and deploying a National Digital Land Information System to standardise and streamline asset records nationwide. Dangiwa stated that the Federal Government aims to increase formal land transactions from less than 10 precent to over 50 percent in the next decade. He stressed that by digitising property registration, owners will gain greater access to credit, empowering them to leverage their assets for economic activities. Additionally, the government plans to train and deploy skilled property registration officers nationwide.
Govt will collaborate with the private sector for implementation.
Recognising that its administration falls under the jurisdiction of state governments, the Federal Government is actively engaging state authorities to align their processes with national standards. State governments that have already integrated geographic information systems into their asset administration processes were commended for their forward-thinking approach. The Federal Government hopes that more states will adopt similar innovations to modernise their systems. Also, financial institutions and Real Estate firms in the Private Sector are encouraged to integrate digital records into mortgage processes and Investment decisions.
Beyond economic empowerment, the new system is also expected to improve Government Revenue generation. By formalising asset transactions, the government stands to increase earnings from its taxes, registration fees, and titling charges. Moreover, digitisation is projected to reduce property disputes, which have been a persistent issue in the country. With a central database providing clear records of ownership and land use rights, fraudulent practices such as double allocation and illegal sales will be stopped. In addition to improving property rights protection, the initiative aims to empower marginalised groups, including women and youth, by granting them access to formal ownership.
Technology-driven reforms to enhance transparency and efficiency.
To ensure the system’s success, the federal government is incorporating advanced technologies such as geographical information systems (GIS) and blockchain. These innovations will enhance data security, streamline property registration, and eliminate the inefficiencies associated with manual record-keeping. Blockchain technology, in particular, is expected to enhance transaction transparency by creating an immutable ledger of ownership records. This will build public trust in the administration system and encourage more property owners to formalise their assets across the country.
Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development strongly supports these reforms. Lawmakers have pledged to provide legislative backing to ensure the smooth implementation of the digital system. They also emphasised the importance of public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the benefits of the development and encourage participation. Likewise, the World Bank has also endorsed the efforts, aligning them with global best practices aimed at reducing Poverty and enhancing economic opportunities. Representatives of the global financial institution have pledged technical and financial support to help Nigeria achieve its asset reform objectives.
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By modernising land administration, Nigeria is taking a crucial step toward fostering a more structured and investment-friendly economy. The reforms are expected to stimulate growth in various sectors, including agriculture, real estate, and Infrastructure development. They will also enable businesses to secure loans using land as collateral, further driving economic activities and job creation. The Federal Government’s commitment to this development underscores its broader economic transformation agenda. If successfully implemented, the initiative will improve land governance and unlock billions of dollars in untapped capital, positioning Nigeria for sustainable Economic Growth in the years to come.