Ahmed Dangiwa, Nigeria’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development, has emphasized that unlocking the country’s $300 billion in dead capital hinges on the successful implementation of a national land registration and titling program.
The initiative, announced in partnership with the World Bank, aims to tackle Nigeria’s low land registration rates—currently below 10%—and to boost land formalization efforts.
By improving land registration, the program seeks to transform land into a more valuable economic asset, which is currently underutilized.
During a statement made in Abuja, Dangiwa outlined plans to collaborate with the World Bank Group on a National Land Documentation and Titling Programme designed to significantly enhance land registration across Nigeria.
- Growing housing gap requires N5.5trn/yr to close.
- Apex Bank fixes national BDC at N2 billion, state N500 million
- Zenith Bank preparing to launch a campaign to raise capital.
This initiative was prominently featured at the Nigerian Liveable Cities Workshop, organized by the Ministry in partnership with the World Bank.
Dangiwa highlighted the critical need to fully leverage land as an economic asset. With less than 10% of land in Nigeria currently registered, its potential value remains largely untapped.
“The National Land Registration and Titling Programme aims to increase land formalization from under 10% to 50% within the next decade,” the minister stated. “This effort is expected to unlock up to $300 billion in dormant capital.
The draft framework for this program is already developed, and the Ministry has directed its consultants to work with the World Bank for its adoption and execution.”
The program is a central part of the Ministry’s broader land reform strategy, which also includes plans to establish a National Land Commission to enforce the Land Use Act.
Additionally, Dangiwa mentioned the Nigeria Urban Livability and Mobility Programmatic Analytics and Advisory Services (ULM PASA), launched by the World Bank, which will provide technical support to improve urban livability, competitiveness, and resilience in select Nigerian cities.
The workshop served as a platform for sharing knowledge and building partnerships aimed at fostering sustainable urban development.
Dangiwa also pointed out ongoing government initiatives such as the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates program, which aims to deliver 50,000 housing units in its first phase.
He addressed the challenges facing Nigerian cities, including rapid urbanization, infrastructure deficits, and climate change, stressing the need for innovative solutions.
Fuad Malkawi, leader of the World Bank Task Team, presented preliminary findings that revealed many Nigerian cities are at risk of disasters due to inadequate infrastructure and basic services.
The workshop proposed solutions for issues such as inaccurate data, urban planning pressures, and the need for climate-smart infrastructure. Recommendations included developing a drainage master plan, creating city administrations with strong legal frameworks, and integrating disaster resilience into state development plans.
