The Federal Government has announced a partnership with the World Bank to modernize land administration through the development of a National Land Digital System (NLDS).
The initiative is expected to unlock $300 billion in untapped economic potential tied to land and property by addressing inefficiencies in land registration, enhancing transparency, and streamlining land transaction processes nationwide.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, disclosed the partnership during the 13th National Council on Housing, Lands, and Urban Development in Gombe, as revealed in a statement published on the Ministry’s official website on Thursday.
The statement highlighted that the NLDS will serve as a comprehensive and accessible digital registry, enabling Nigerians to verify land ownership securely and efficiently
“The Federal government of Nigeria is set to partner with the World Bank to modernize land administration in Nigeria, by developing a National Land Digital System (NLDS) for the optimization of land transactions, that would enable transparency, efficiency, and accessibility,” the statement read in part.
It added, “Dangiwa said the system will serve as a comprehensive, accessible digital registry, enabling Nigerians to verify land ownership securely and efficiently; further affirming that by enhancing transparency and reducing fraud, the NDLS will increase investor confidence and unlock up to $300 billion in untapped economic potentials related to land and property.”
The Housing Minister highlighted that by enhancing transparency and minimizing fraud, the National Land Digital System (NLDS) is expected to boost investor confidence and formalize over 50% of land transactions within the next decade, a significant increase from the current rate of less than 10%.
Dangiwa also informed participants at the Council meeting of the Federal Government’s commitment to collaborating with state governments to register, document, and title all land parcels, ensuring clarity and security in land ownership to unlock development opportunities and attract investment.