Less Than 10% of Nigerian Land Properly Documented, Says Minister

Nigeria’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development has revealed that less than 10% of the country’s land is properly documented, highlighting a major challenge in land administration and ownership rights. The lack of proper records has contributed to disputes, illegal land grabbing, and difficulties in securing bank loans using land as collateral.

According to the minister, the absence of a comprehensive land registry system hinders economic growth, discourages investment, and complicates urban planning efforts. Many landowners still rely on traditional and informal methods of documentation, which are often not legally recognized.

The government has reiterated its commitment to improving land governance by digitizing records and implementing reforms that will simplify land registration processes. Experts say that a more structured land documentation system would boost economic activities, particularly in agriculture, real estate, and infrastructure development.

With a growing population and increasing demand for land, stakeholders are calling for urgent action to streamline land ownership procedures and ensure that more Nigerians have legally recognized titles to their properties.