FG Partners with World Bank to Address Nigeria’s 90% Unregistered Land in 5-Year Reform

Nigeria’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has revealed that more than 90% of the country’s land remains unregistered, leading to an estimated $300 billion in dead capital. To address this, the Federal Government is partnering with the World Bank on a five-year initiative to register, document, and title land parcels nationwide. The project includes the National Digital Land Information System (NDLIS), which aims to streamline land transactions, improve transparency, and boost economic activity. The initiative hopes to increase formal land transactions from 10% to over 50% within a decade.

Additionally, the Ministry has given federal Certificate of Occupancy holders a 60-day deadline to clear outstanding debts, or face revocation of their titles. The conference on land administration highlighted the need for equitable land management, linking it to broader issues like urbanization, climate change, and food security.

Both Dangiwa and other key stakeholders emphasized the importance of reforms in land administration for the nation’s development and sustainability.