FG Targets $150bn in Dormant Land Assets to Drive Economic Growth

Abuja, Nigeria–The Federal Government plans to unlock over $150 billion in dormant land capital across the country through a nationwide land reform initiative aimed at stimulating economic development and increasing access to credit, investment, and housing.

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa, made this announcement on Thursday in a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Badamasi Haiba. The declaration was made during a stakeholders’ workshop held in Lagos, themed “Moving from Inception to Implementation”, as part of the Nigeria Land Registration, Documentation and Titling Programme (NLRDTP).

According to Dangiwa, the initiative—branded “Land4Growth”—is a key component of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and aims to transform Nigeria’s underutilized land into an economic asset. The minister noted that less than 5% of land in Nigeria is currently formally titled, leaving a vast amount of capital—estimated at over $300 billion—untapped.

“This programme is not just an administrative reform; it is an economic strategy designed to convert land into a productive tool for prosperity—for individuals, state governments, and the nation,” Dangiwa said.

The Land4Growth programme seeks to increase formal land title registrations by at least 50% over the next decade. It will introduce digitised, transparent systems through the deployment of interoperable Land Information Systems (LIS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), alongside the establishment of a National Land Information Repository.

The initiative will also strengthen state-level land registries, simplify land governance processes, and enhance transparency and efficiency in property transactions.

The first phase of the programme will focus on 18 to 20 reform-ready states, targeting the issuance of over one million digital Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os) and the training of more than 2,000 land administration professionals.

Dangiwa outlined key objectives of the reform, which include:

• Securing land rights for individuals, communities, and businesses.
• Enabling land to serve as collateral to improve access to finance.
• Enhancing internally generated revenue (IGR) through property taxation.
• Supporting better urban planning and land management.

He also assured state governments that the programme would respect their constitutional authority over land as stipulated in the Land Use Act. States will retain full decision-making powers, while the federal government and development partners, such as the World Bank, will provide technical assistance, funding, and capacity-building support.

To encourage public participation, the programme will include awareness campaigns to improve the collection and issuance of approved C of Os and promote understanding of the benefits of formal land ownership.

“Through this initiative, individuals will gain secure land titles, which will enhance property value, reduce land-related conflicts, and facilitate access to credit. For states, it presents an opportunity to expand their revenue base, attract investment, and implement more effective infrastructure and housing plans,” the minister added.

Dangiwa concluded that the Land4Growth programme will lay the foundation for long-term national development across housing, infrastructure, agriculture, and economic sectors.

By Taiwo Olatinwo/ August 14,2025