Nigeria’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has joined forces with the World Bank to address the nation’s significant land registration challenges. With over 90% of land in Nigeria untitled, representing an estimated $300 billion in unutilized capital, this initiative is poised to unlock substantial economic potential.
The partnership aims to achieve several key objectives over the next five years: registering and titling all land parcels, increasing formal land transactions from under 10% to over 50%, and establishing a National Digital Land Information System (NDLIS). The agreement was formalized on September 11, 2024, in Abuja, with the signing by Minister of Housing Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa and Guangzhe Chen, Vice President of Infrastructure at the World Bank.
“This initiative is crucial for our government,” Dangiwa said. “We are addressing a situation where over 90% of land remains unregistered, locking up an estimated $300 billion in dead capital. Our goal is to document and title all land parcels within five years, develop a comprehensive digital land information system, and significantly enhance the formalization of land transactions.”
The National Land Registration and Titling Programme will collaborate with state governments to increase revenue through ground rent, Certificates of Occupancy, and real estate taxes. This revenue is expected to improve urban services and help mitigate climate change impacts in Nigerian cities.
In addition to land registration, the partnership will focus on Urban Livability and the Housing Value Chain. Dangiwa emphasized that implementing the National Urban Development Policy is a priority, with the World Bank’s technical expertise being essential for creating sustainable urban management frameworks and improving service delivery. The partnership also aims to address systemic barriers in the housing value chain to attract private investment in affordable housing.
The recent Livability Workshop with state commissioners, which led to actionable recommendations, is another key area of focus. These recommendations will be developed into a detailed plan in collaboration with the World Bank.
Guangzhe Chen of the World Bank highlighted the visit’s purpose: identifying areas of mutual interest for collaboration, including land administration, affordable housing, sustainable financing, and urban land management. Chen noted that successful models from other West and Central African countries could be adapted for Nigeria.
Ndiame Diop, World Bank Country Director, assured that the identified priorities would be developed into comprehensive programs, including improvements to the mortgage ecosystem, a structured land titling system, and support for urban planning challenges like flooding and heat. Diop underscored the urgency of addressing the unregistered land issue and praised the Minister’s engagement with state governments, which he sees as critical for the success of the initiative. The World Bank is committed to providing both financial and technical support to advance Nigeria’s housing and urban development agenda.
Written by: Blossom Kugbere