Dangiwa launches land reform to unlock N150bn dead capital, modernize land administration

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has introduced the Nigeria Land Registration, Documentation and Titling Programme (NLRDTP), a landmark initiative aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s outdated land administration system and unlocking over $150 billion worth of “dead capital.”

For more than six decades, Nigeria’s land management system has remained fragmented and paper-based, limiting investments, access to credit, and effective urban planning. The NLRDTP, anchored on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, seeks to modernize and harmonize land processes nationwide, enhance tenure security, and boost economic productivity.

According to the Ministry, the reform will digitize land records, streamline documentation, and deliver secure and verifiable titles to citizens across the federation. It will also strengthen property rights, improve mortgage access, and expand the internally generated revenue (IGR) base of states.

The programme is designed as a state-led, federally supported, and nationally coordinated reform that respects the constitutional authority of state governments over land, while providing them with technical and financial support to modernize their systems.

Dangiwa said the initiative will not only unlock billions in dormant land assets but also empower citizens, promote gender inclusion, and create an enabling environment for housing, agriculture, and industrial growth.

Currently, less than five percent of land in Nigeria is formally titled — a situation the Minister described as a major barrier to investment and development. The World Bank estimates that Nigeria’s untitled land assets amount to more than $150 billion in inactive capital.

The NLRDTP aims to address these challenges by strengthening tenure security, enabling effective urban planning, facilitating access to affordable mortgage finance, and boosting investor confidence. It will also help states maximize revenue from property taxes and land use charges.

Dangiwa emphasized that beyond being a technical reform, the programme represents an economic transformation and social inclusion strategy. By working with state governments, professional bodies, and development partners, the Ministry plans to restore public trust in land governance and ensure that women, youth, and vulnerable groups have equitable access to land rights.

With its successful implementation, the NLRDTP is expected to reposition Nigeria’s land economy as a key driver of sustainable development and inclusive growth.