The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has revealed that over 90% of Nigeria’s land remains unregistered, representing an estimated $300 billion in untapped capital. Speaking at the 13th National Council on Housing, Lands, and Urban Development in Gombe State, Dangiwa outlined the Federal Government’s commitment to collaborating with states to register, document, and title land parcels across the country to unlock significant economic and developmental potential.

Dangiwa announced a partnership with the World Bank to develop a National Land Digital System (NDLS) aimed at modernizing land administration in Nigeria. This initiative seeks to address long-standing inefficiencies in land registration, reduce fraud, and increase transparency, enabling formal land transactions to grow from less than 10% to over 50% within a decade.

The NDLS will serve as a secure digital registry for verifying land ownership, increasing investor confidence and unlocking economic opportunities tied to land and property. “By ensuring clarity, security, and accessibility in land transactions, Nigeria is setting the foundation for increased domestic and international investments,” the minister stated.

Dangiwa also emphasized the importance of urban development and resilience as part of Nigeria’s response to rapid urbanization. He highlighted the pending National Urban Development Policy, which aims to foster climate-smart, inclusive, and economically vibrant cities. The policy aligns with the commitments made during the recent Africa Urban Forum held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where African nations, including Nigeria, agreed to organize annual national urban forums to discuss urban challenges and opportunities.

In housing development, the minister outlined ongoing projects, including the construction of over 10,000 housing units across 14 locations nationwide. He also announced plans for the establishment of “Renewed Hope Cities” in Enugu, Borno, Nasarawa, Rivers, and other states, with a target of one such city in each geopolitical zone and the Federal Capital Territory.

Acknowledging the affordability challenge in housing, Dangiwa urged state and local governments to allocate significant portions of their revenues to affordable housing initiatives, noting that reliance solely on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) may not sufficiently address the housing needs of low-income Nigerians.

Additionally, the minister revealed the introduction of a new compensation framework for individuals affected by land acquisitions for infrastructure and housing projects. Developed in collaboration with the World Bank, this updated policy aims to ensure fair and equitable compensation, bridging an 18-year gap in previous compensation systems.

The Federal Government’s efforts, Dangiwa stressed, are geared towards creating an efficient land administration system and fostering urban transformation that benefits all Nigerians.