- Nigeria and the World Bank are collaborating to register all land parcels, aiming to unlock $300 billion in untapped capital due to unregistered land
- The National Digital Land Information System (NDLIS) will be developed to facilitate access to land data and increase formal land transactions from 10% to 50% within the next 10 years
- The initiative will also focus on improving urban services, affordable housing, and mitigating climate change impacts
Nigeria’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has partnered with the World Bank to tackle the country’s land registration issues, with over 90% of land currently untitled, tying up an estimated $300 billion in untapped capital.
The initiative aims to register all land parcels within five years, increase formal land transactions from 10% to 50%, and establish a National Digital Land Information System (NDLIS).
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Housing, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa and the World Bank’s Vice President of Infrastructure, Guangzhe Chen, on September 11, 2024, in Abuja, as contained in a statement on the ministry’s website.
“This is very important to our government as over 90% of land in our country is unregistered and untitled. Experts estimate a dead capital of over $300 billion.”
“Through this initiative that we plan to implement with the World Bank, we aim to, amongst other objectives, register, document and title all land parcels within five years; develop and launch a National Digital Land Information System (NDLIS) and define a framework that makes it accessible to all stakeholders; increase the formalisation of land transactions from less than 10% to over 50% in the next 10 years; and train and deploy technically competent land registration officers nationwide,” Dangiwa said.
The Housing Minister revealed that the National Land Registration and Titling Programme will partner with state governments, enabling them to boost revenue through ground rent, Certificates of Occupancy, and real estate taxes.
He added that these funds could improve urban services and help mitigate climate change impacts in cities across Nigeria.
Beyond land registration, the collaboration extends to enhancing urban livability and addressing systemic barriers in Nigeria’s housing value chain, particularly encouraging private investments in affordable housing.
This is aligned with the government's focus on implementing a National Urban Development Policy and improving service delivery in urban areas, with the World Bank’s technical expertise seen as vital.
World Bank Vice President Chen noted that the visit prioritised areas of mutual interest with Nigeria’s Ministry of Housing. The World Bank remains committed to supporting Nigeria in land administration, affordable housing, climate change mitigation, and urban land management, to adapt successful models from other West and Central African countries for Nigeria’s needs.
Country Director of the World Bank, Ndiame Diop, highlighted that priorities such as mortgage ecosystem improvements, structured land titling, and urban planning support would be refined into comprehensive programs.
He stressed that addressing land registration, with over 90% of land unregistered, was an urgent need for Nigeria’s housing sector.
Diop also commended the Minister for involving state governments early on, noting that collaboration at the state level is critical for the program's success. He reaffirmed the World Bank’s readiness for financing and technical support to drive Nigeria's housing and urban development agenda.
Despite 3.19% GDP growth in Q2 2024, Nigeria’s GDP per capita declining
Earlier, TheRadar reported that the National Bureau of Statistics announced an increase in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, which grew by 3.19 per cent in the second quarter of 2024.
Despite the growth, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the World Bank and economists said Nigeria’s GDP per capita experienced a steady decline, and a declining GDP per capita in a nation with exponential population growth will have adverse economic outcomes.