FG moves to raise land formalisation to 50%

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has said his ministry is planning to increase the formalisation of land transactions across the country by 50 per cent over 10 years.

He said the target was to also unlock over $150bn in dead capital to help increase Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product by 30 per cent.

He disclosed this at the housing ministry’s 2025 Sector Retreat, themed, “Actualising the Renewed Hope Agenda for Housing and Urban Development: Examining Strategies, Identifying Opportunities to Boost Scale and Impact,”  in Lagos recently.

Dangiwa said, “We are currently working with the World Bank, in partnership with state governments, toward the implementation of a National Land Registration and Titling Programme. The plan is to increase the formalisation of land transactions in the country by 50 per cent over a 10-year period. This would unlock over $150bn in dead capital and help increase Nigeria’s GDP by 30 per cent. The World Bank was here on the first technical mission in November last year and is scheduled to return for the second mission in early March.

“On institutional reforms, the establishment of a National Social Housing Fund, and Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs, we have received the reports of the task teams, reviewed their recommendations internally, and are clear on the next steps. These positions will also be presented here at the Retreat for additional input from stakeholders.

“Additionally, we have upscaled and expanded our National Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrade Programme in line with the urban development component of our mandate. We currently have over 100 projects completed in several locations nationwide to improve the livability of Nigerians in semi-urban, rural areas, and villages.”

Dangiwa assured that 2025 would be an action year for the ministry, stressing that the ministry aims to move with speed to get all these reforms off the ground.

He continued, “However, this is only possible with your support and input. We have a big housing problem, and we intend to approach fixing it in a big way, small efforts will not take us anywhere. We are fully aware that a key part of the ministry’s mandate is policy formulation. In this direction, we have also made notable progress. The ministry worked with UN-Habitat to produce a National Urban Development Policy, which is pending presentation and approval by the Federal Executive Council.

“The policy outlines a framework for coordinating a 10-year program of action for sustainable urbanisation in our country. Through this, we aim to domesticate and customise the goals of signed international policies, operationalise national policies in multiple sectors, and create cities that work for all residents. The NUDP is prepared with the objective of harnessing well-managed urbanisation as an engine of growth for the national economy.

“We have also exhaustively studied the National Housing Strategy Report 2023, which was launched by my predecessor. I must acknowledge that the team that developed it, in liaison with FMDQs, PWC, and several other members from the Ministry and the industry, did a thorough job. It is a well-researched, ministry-sponsored research and strategy paper on housing. However, because most of the data used was from 2019, and so much has changed within the macroeconomic environment, especially in the last three years, we are looking to review and update it.”

He further disclosed that the ministry was working to create a framework for the establishment of a Real Estate Regulatory Authority.

“We must give credit and acknowledge the tireless efforts and advocacy of the House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Housing and Habitat, Abdulmumin Jibrin, for this initiative. We consider it necessary and are committed to working with the House Committee and all stakeholders to actualise it.

“We have also taken note and are working on ways and strategies to ensure that Nigerians use properties only as designated in city plans. This is also a key point of concern for the Chairman of the House Committee on Urban Development, Abiante Awaji. We shall be engaging with the committee to actualise this as well,” Dangiwa stated.