Abuja: The Federal Government says it is prioritising land administration reforms to expand access to affordable housing for low-income earners and informal workers across the country.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, made this announcement during the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Day at the ongoing 20th Africa International Housing Show (AIHS). Represented by Mr. Temitope Pemi, Director and Head of Department, Public Buildings and Housing Development, Darma highlighted the significance of efficient, accessible, transparent, and secure land administration systems in housing policy success.
Darma emphasised that land is the foundation for housing delivery, urban development, economic prosperity, and social inclusion. He noted that rapid urbanisation across Africa has widened housing deficits and increased pressure on urban infrastructure, leaving low-income households and millions of informal workers underserved by conventional housing finance and formal land administration systems. Many of these individuals struggle to obtain secure land titles, access mortgage finance, or navigate the complexities of land acquisition and documentation, leaving homeownership out of reach for many hardworking citizens.
He stressed that simplifying land administration processes and adopting digital technologies could reduce housing costs and encourage private sector investment. The Nigerian Land Titling, Registration and Documentation Programme aims to expand land registration and facilitate greater access to housing finance. Additionally, the ministry is advancing digital land administration through Geographic Information Systems, digital cadastral mapping, and electronic land records.
Collins Alabi, Director of Lands and Housing Development Department, echoed these sentiments, stating that affordable housing will remain elusive without accessible, well-documented, well-planned, and serviced land. He emphasised the need for governments to increase the supply of serviced land and modernise land administration systems to support housing delivery for low-income earners and informal workers. Alabi also highlighted the importance of digitising land records and implementing transparent land allocation procedures to reduce delays, minimise transaction costs, and improve transparency.
Dr. Shuaib Belgore, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, represented by Mrs. Margaret Adejobi, Director of Urban and Regional Planning, reiterated that affordable housing begins with accessible land. He pointed out that inaccessible, undocumented, insecure, or prohibitively expensive land hinders the provision of affordable housing. Belgore stressed the need for land administration systems to become instruments of inclusion rather than barriers to opportunity, particularly for low-income earners and informal sector workers facing significant barriers in accessing decent housing.
Belgore called for stronger collaboration among governments, development partners, financial institutions, and private sector stakeholders to address Africa’s housing deficit effectively.