FG Launches $150bn Land Reform to Unlock Dormant Capital and Drive Growth

File: Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa.

In a bold move to stimulate economic development, the Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled the National Land Registration, Documentation and Titling Programme (NLRDTP), aimed at unlocking over $150 billion in dormant land capital. The initiative, announced by Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Architect Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, took center stage at a stakeholders’ workshop held in Lagos.

Nigeria’s current land administration system is largely informal, with less than 5% of land officially titled. This has left millions of citizens without secure ownership documentation and deprived state governments of substantial internally generated revenue. The minister highlighted that this situation has resulted in an estimated $300 billion in “dead capital”—land assets that cannot be leveraged for credit, investment, or development.

The new programme, branded “Land4Growth,” is a cornerstone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. It seeks to transform land from a passive asset into a dynamic economic tool. Dangiwa emphasized that this is not merely an administrative overhaul but a strategic economic intervention designed to empower individuals, communities, and governments.

Key goals of the initiative include:

- Increasing formal land title registration by at least 50% within the next decade.

- Deploying digitized and interoperable Land Information Systems (LIS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

- Strengthening state land registries and agencies.

- Enhancing property taxation and boosting state-level revenue.

- Facilitating access to credit and housing through secure land ownership.

Importantly, the programme respects the constitutional authority of states over land, as enshrined in the Land Use Act. States will retain full control over land decisions, while receiving federal support in the form of funding, technical assistance, and training. International partners like the World Bank are expected to play a role in easing financial and operational burdens.

The model is designed to be flexible, allowing adaptation to individual state laws while maintaining national standards for efficiency and transparency. Public awareness campaigns will also be launched to encourage citizens to collect approved Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os), a key step in formalizing land ownership.

This initiative marks a significant step toward unlocking Nigeria’s vast land potential and positioning it as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth.