The federal government of Nigeria is set to partner with the World Bank to modernise land administration in Nigeria, by developing a National Land Digital System (NLDS) for the optimisation of land transactions.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc Ahmed Musa Dangiwa who made the revelation for the partnership in his remarks during the meeting with States Commissioners responsible for lands and housing matters at the13th National Council on Housing, Lands and Urban Development in Gombe, also said the alliance would enable transparency, efficiency, accessibility and increase investor confidence that can unlock up to N300 billion untapped economic potentials related to land property
A statement signed by the federal ministry of housing and urban development’s director of Press and Public Relations, Salisu Badamasi Haiba revealed that Dangiwa said the digital initiative will solve the long standing challenges currently faced in land registration, as well as boost economic activity and enhance property rights protection, with a goal of increasing formal land transactions from less than 10 per cent to over 50 per cent within a decade.
According to the Minister, the pivotal decision will tackle the challenges obstructing effective and efficient land registration in the country, adding that both parties were finalising the operational framework and investment commitment for the initiative.
“The system will serve as a comprehensive, accessible digital registry, enabling Nigerians to verify land ownership securely and efficiently. It will enhance transparency and reduce fraud. The NDLS will increase investor confidence and unlock up to $300 billion in untapped economic potentials related to land and property”, he said.
On tackling Nigeria’s massive housing deposit, Dangiwa said that the Ministry is advancing the construction of over 10,000 housing units across 14 locations nationwide, highlighting the role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in accelerating housing delivery, especially for middle- and high-income earners.
“We have also acquired land in Enugu and Borno for the development of 2,000-unit Renewed Hope Cities under a PPP arrangement. Planned locations for additional cities include Nasarawa and Rivers States with 2000 units each, respectively.
“Our goal is to establish at least one Renewed Hope City in each geo-political zone and the FCT”, Dangiwa revealed.
