The Federal Government has revealed that less than 10% of Nigeria’s land has been registered since the country began formal land documentation 140 years ago.

This disclosure was made by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, during a National Land Registration and Documentation Programme workshop held recently in Abuja.

Dangiwa attributed the low rate of land registration to an outdated and cumbersome system, which has made the process slow and inaccessible to the average landowner.

“Since the inception of formal land registration in 1883, the processes have been conducted under a non-compulsory sporadic system that is slow, cumbersome, opaque, and expensive. It is no surprise that less than 10 per cent of land in Nigeria is registered in 140 years,” Dangiwa stated.

Dead Capital Exceeds $300 Billion

The minister warned that over 90% of land across the country remains unregistered and untitled, preventing landowners from using their assets to secure credit or drive economic growth.

“Experts estimate that this has resulted in dead capital exceeding $300bn. Addressing this issue is not just about administrative efficiency; it is a critical step toward economic transformation,” he said.

To tackle the challenge, the government plans to partner with the private sector to accelerate land documentation and improve land governance.

Government’s Plan for Land Reform

Dangiwa outlined a series of reform strategies, including:

• Launching a National Digital Land Information System to modernise and streamline land registration.
• Increasing formal land transactions to expand property rights and economic opportunities.
• Training land registration officers to improve efficiency and transparency.

“We aim to register, document, and title all land parcels to unlock Nigeria’s dead capital, empowering landowners to utilise their assets for economic growth,” Dangiwa explained.

He also stressed the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in mobilising resources and expertise to drive the initiative forward.

“Digitised land administration presents significant investment opportunities, and we must identify successful PPP models that can be adapted to the Nigerian context,” he added.

World Bank Pledges Support

The World Bank has thrown its weight behind the initiative, affirming its commitment to supporting the Nigerian government’s land reform agenda.

Dr. Michael Ilesanmi, a Senior Special Development Specialist representing the World Bank Country Director, described the programme as a significant step toward fostering economic growth.

“The National Land Registration and Documentation Programme aligns with the vision of the World Bank to eradicate poverty. This programme will help unlock the potential of the national and sub-national economies for investors,” Ilesanmi stated.

Aiming for 50% Land Registration in a Decade

The initiative is expected to increase formal land transactions from the current 10% to over 50% within the next decade, improving access to credit and boosting internally generated revenue for state governments.

Dangiwa also assured stakeholders of the political will of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to drive the reforms to completion.

“With the support of the World Bank, we are on the cusp of making history in Nigeria,” he added.

The workshop also revisited recommendations from the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reforms, which proposed systematic land titling and registration as a sustainable solution.

The Federal Government now seeks National Council of State approval to formalise and scale the reforms nationwide.