Nigeria and World Bank to Collaborate on Land Reforms and Affordable Housing for Sustainable Urban Development
In a significant move towards addressing Nigeria's urban challenges, the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has announced a new partnership with the World Bank Group. This collaboration is set to tackle land administration bottlenecks, affordable housing, and urban resilience initiatives.
Earlier today, the Minister of Works and Housing hosted a delegation from the World Bank, led by Vice President for Infrastructure, Mr. Guangzhe Chen. The delegation also included key figures such as the World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Ndiame Diop, and Senior Urban Development Specialist, Fuad Malkawi. The discussions centered around Nigeria’s ongoing urban challenges and strategies to improve land registration and housing delivery.
A key outcome of the meeting was the agreement to collaborate on improving Nigeria's land titling and registration system. Currently, only 10% of land in Nigeria is titled, a statistic the Ministry aims to increase to 50% over the next five years. The National Land Registration and Titling Programme, in collaboration with state governments, is expected to be a critical tool in achieving this goal. This initiative is projected to unlock over $300 billion in untapped capital tied up in unregistered land assets.
“We are confident that with the World Bank’s support, Nigeria can significantly improve land administration, making it easier for citizens to access land and for states to generate revenue through increased registration and titling,” the Minister stated.
The meeting also addressed urban resilience, with discussions highlighting the need to protect Nigerian cities from the impacts of climate change. Recent flooding in Maiduguri was used as an example of the vulnerability of urban centers. The Minister emphasized that critical infrastructure and sustainable planning are essential to building resilient cities. The partnership will explore opportunities to improve infrastructure while promoting energy efficiency and sustainability in urban development.
Another focal point of the meeting was the need to strengthen Nigeria’s mortgage system to increase access to affordable housing. The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) currently accounts for over 50% of mortgages created in the country. However, mortgages still make up less than 1% of Nigeria’s GDP, far lower than in other countries like the United States and Canada. Recapitalization of the FMBN and strengthening its operational capacity were identified as essential steps in expanding mortgage availability for Nigerians.
The Minister further acknowledged the positive outcomes in states like Kaduna and Nasarawa, which have adopted modern land information systems. He expressed optimism that through sustained collaboration with state governments and support from international partners like the World Bank, Nigeria can enhance land accessibility, attract private real estate investment, and boost affordable housing delivery.
The Minister concluded by reaffirming the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to affordable housing and sustainable urban development, thanking the World Bank team for their visit and ongoing support.