Регистрация прав на землю в Нигерии станет ключом к экономическому росту страны

Building & Properties Follow Us on Google September 2, 2026 by Our Reporter Land titling and property documentation: the missing link to Nigeria’s economic growth By ESV Yemisi Adesiyan Nigeria’s economic growth cannot be fully understood or sustained without confronting one of the country’s most valuable but poorly organised assets: land. Across the country, millions of properties are occupied, developed, bought and sold without proper title or complete documentation. Buildings rise on plots whose ownership cannot be easily verified, transactions are conducted through informal agreements, and families hold properties for generations without securing the legal documents required to establish undisputed ownership. This situation is more than an administrative inconvenience; it represents a significant economic problem. When land and buildings cannot be easily recognised as secure and transferable assets, a substantial portion of Nigeria’s wealth remains locked outside the formal economy. Secure land titling is fundamental to investment because investors need certainty. Nobody wants to commit substantial capital to a property whose ownership is questionable, whose boundaries are disputed, or whose title cannot be properly verified. Yet this is the reality confronting many Nigerians. The process of obtaining Certificates of Occupancy, registering transactions, perfecting titles and securing other necessary documentation can be lengthy, expensive and sometimes frustrating. In some cases, the complexity of the process encourages people to bypass formal procedures altogether. The consequence is a cycle in which undocumented properties remain outside the formal property market, while their owners struggle to use them effectively as economic assets. The implications are particularly significant for mortgage finance. A properly documented property can serve as collateral for a loan because its ownership and legal status can be established with reasonable certainty. However, when property documentation is incomplete or uncertain, financial institutions become reluctant to accept such assets as security. This helps explain, among other factors, why mortgage finance remains inaccessible to a large proportion of Nigerians. A house may represent the largest investment a family has ever made, yet the owner may be unable to convert part of that wealth into productive capital because the property lacks acceptable documentation. Land titling, therefore, should not be regarded merely as a legal requirement; it is an important mechanism for unlocking dormant household wealth. Government also loses substantially when property ownership and transactions remain outside an effective formal system. Reliable land records can support a more efficient property taxation system, improve planning and strengthen the capacity of government to identify properties and property owners within its jurisdiction. Proper documentation can also reduce multiple sales, encroachment, boundary disputes, fraudulent transactions and prolonged litigation. More importantly, a transparent land registry creates an institutional record that survives changes in ownership and provides confidence to buyers, lenders, developers and investors. In this sense, effective land administration is not simply about issuing documents; it is about creating an infrastructure of trust upon which a modern property economy can function. READ ALSO: Six Yoruba kings who are professors in Nigeria Nigeria can learn important lessons from countries that have invested in digital land administration. Digital cadastral systems, electronic registration, searchable land records, geographic information systems and online transaction platforms have made land administration faster and more transparent in several jurisdictions. Countries that have modernised their systems demonstrate that technology can reduce dependence on cumbersome paper records, improve accessibility and make verification considerably easier. For Nigeria, however, digitisation should not simply mean scanning old documents and storing them electronically. It should involve a comprehensive transformation of land administration, including accurate cadastral mapping, integration of ownership records, standardisation of procedures, online searches, electronic payments and efficient mechanisms for resolving disputes. The challenge is that technology alone will not solve Nigeria’s land administration problems. There must also be institutional reform. State land registries need adequate funding, trained personnel, modern equipment and clear service standards. Procedures should be simplified, fees made transparent and unnecessary bureaucratic stages eliminated. The various agencies involved in surveying, planning, registration, taxation and development control must also work together rather than operate as disconnected bureaucratic islands. Public awareness is equally important. Many property owners do not fully understand the economic importance of perfecting their titles, while others are discouraged by the perceived cost and complexity of the process. A simpler, faster and more affordable system would encourage voluntary compliance. There is also a compelling economic argument for treating land documentation as part of Nigeria’s broader development strategy. When property rights are secure, land becomes easier to transfer, finance and develop. Developers can make investment decisions with greater confidence; banks can lend against properly documented assets; governments can plan infrastructure more effectively; and households can protect and potentially increase the value of their wealth. Proper land records can also contribute to urban planning by helping authorities understand patterns of ownership, development and land use. In a rapidly urbanising country such as Nigeria, this is indispensable for managing cities efficiently and sustainably. Ultimately, Nigeria does not suffer from a shortage of land or property; it suffers, to a significant extent, from a failure to fully formalise and unlock the economic value embedded in those assets. Land titling and property documentation should therefore move from the margins of administrative policy to the centre of economic policy. The Federal Government, state governments, financial institutions, professional bodies and technology providers must collaborate to build a land administration system that is transparent, accessible, digitally driven and responsive to the needs of citizens. If millions of Nigerians can obtain secure and verifiable rights to the properties they already own, the country will not merely have better land records; it will have more bankable assets, stronger investment confidence, improved revenue mobilisation and greater opportunities for wealth creation. In the final analysis, unlocking Nigeria’s land is not simply about documenting property—it is about unlocking a significant part of the nation’s economic future. ESV Yemisi Adesiyan is an Estate Surveyor & Valuer. She wrote from Ibadan. 📢 ADVERTISEMENT DISCLAIMER: Links above are sponsored posts. The Nation assumes no liability or responsibility for the claims, products, or services offered by third-party advertisers. 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