Nigeria’s government has unveiled a land reform programme aimed at unlocking more than $150 billion in dormant land assets, to transform the nation’s economy and improve living standards.
“Less than 5% of land in Nigeria is formally titled,” Dangiwa said, warning that this has left millions without secure proof of ownership, deprived states of billions in internally generated revenue, and locked up an estimated $300 billion in “dead capital” at the federal level.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Land4Growth programme aims to increase formal land registration by at least 50% within a decade, deploy modern Land Information Systems (LIS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and strengthen state registries.
” The first phase will target 18–20 “reform-ready” states, with a goal of issuing over one million digital land titles and training more than 2,000 professionals.”
Dangiwa stressed that the reform will be state-led, federally supported, and aligned with the constitutional Land Use Act.
“States will maintain full decision-making power on land matters,” he said, adding that the World Bank and other partners will provide funding, training, and technical support to ease the transition.
The programme promises tangible benefits: secure land rights to boost access to credit, reduce disputes, and raise property values; modernized records to strengthen state finances through efficient property taxation; and better tools for urban planning, housing delivery, and agricultural investment.
The Lagos workshop — co-hosted by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu — concluded with the inauguration of a Joint Technical Committee on land matters between the federal and Lagos state governments.
Dangiwa said the reforms would “turn land from a dormant asset into a productive engine for prosperity” and lay the foundation for sustainable housing, infrastructure, and economic growth nationwide.