Vice President Kashim Shettima calls for a comprehensive review and update of Nigeria’s Land Use Act
Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for a comprehensive review and update of Nigeria’s Land Use Act, which has governed land ownership and management for 48 years. Speaking at the three-day National Land Conference 2025 in Abuja—via the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hadejia—Shettima noted that while the 1978 Act has played a central role in shaping the nation’s land policies, it has also led to systemic challenges that now require urgent attention.
“The Act, now approaching half a century in force, is unquestionably in need of revision,” he remarked. “We must undertake a full reassessment to pinpoint the necessary amendments and maintain its relevance in our changing socio-economic environment. Many experts have criticized the Act for hindering our country’s development, making it essential to realign its policies with sustainable growth, fairness, and efficiency.”
In a move towards reform, the current administration launched four task teams in January 2024 to create a strategic plan aimed at streamlining land administration. This initiative is intended to make land access in Nigeria more straightforward, affordable, and efficient. The government has also shown its commitment to establishing a national land commission by drafting an executive bill, which is currently awaiting deliberation in the National Assembly.
At the conference, Professor Ayo Omotayo, Director-General of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), explained that the institute had brought together key stakeholders from the construction and development sectors to review the existing land and resource management system. “Over the next few days, we will reflect on past practices, ask tough questions about our current policies, and explore ways to better achieve the vision our founding fathers had for Nigeria,” he said. Omotayo stressed that revisiting these issues was critical for the success of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Johnbull Amayaevbo, president and founder of the Johnbull Amayaevbo Foundation, added that the conference was a step toward redefining land governance as a catalyst for sustainable development. He observed that despite Nigeria’s vast land resources, outdated policies, inconsistent implementation, and bureaucratic obstacles continue to burden the system. Citing the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index, Amayaevbo highlighted that Nigeria ranks 169th out of 190 countries in property registration, while the International Finance Corporation estimates that only three percent of urban land is formally registered.
Further compounding the issue, the Food and Agriculture Organisation has reported that Nigeria loses roughly 350,000 hectares of forest each year due to unsustainable land practices—a fact that underscores the need for immediate reforms in land management.
Looking to the future, Amayaevbo envisions the conference as an annual forum where experts, stakeholders, and policymakers will regularly review progress and propose practical solutions for reforming land governance. Key recommendations include establishing an Office of the Valuer-General, modernizing land administration laws, strengthening land tenure security, and adopting sustainable land management practices. “As we embark on this journey of reform, we must draw inspiration from global best practices while tailoring our approach to Nigeria’s unique social, cultural, and economic landscape. Our reforms should be bold yet practical, visionary yet actionable, and above all, inclusive so that no community is left behind,” he concluded.