Vice President Kashim Shettima, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to establishing a sustainable land administration system in Nigeria.
Shettima, who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, made the announcement at the opening of the National Land Conference 2025 in Abuja on Wednesday.
The three-day conference, themed “Reforming Land Governance for Sustainable Development in Nigeria,” was organized by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in collaboration with the Johnbull Amayaevbo Foundation.
During his remarks, the Vice President highlighted that the Land Use Act of 1978 had long served as the legal framework for land ownership, management, and administration in the country.
However, he noted that while the Act had significantly shaped land management, it had also contributed to persistent challenges that now require urgent reform.
“Though the Land Use Act has played a critical role in shaping land administration in Nigeria, it is now 48 years old and undeniably due for review,” Shettima stated.
“It is time for a comprehensive reassessment to identify necessary amendments and ensure its relevance in today’s socio-economic context,” he added.
Shettima also referenced critics who argue that the Land Use Act hinders Nigeria’s socio-economic progress, emphasizing the need for reform to align policies with sustainable growth, equity, and efficiency goals.
To address these issues, Shettima explained that the current administration had inaugurated four reform task teams in January 2024.
These teams are tasked with developing a strategic blueprint to streamline land administration, ensuring easier, more cost-effective, and efficient access to land across Nigeria.
The Vice President further expressed the administration’s commitment to establishing a National Land Commission, noting that significant progress had been made with the drafting of an executive bill, which is currently before the National Assembly.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NIPSS, Professor Ayo Omotayo, emphasized the importance of bringing together stakeholders in the building ecosystem to reflect on the current state of land and resource management.
He noted that the goal of the conference was to generate new ideas and provide actionable recommendations to the government.
“For us at NIPSS, the development of Nigeria is central to our mission,” Omotayo said.
“We are committed to researching and reflecting on issues of national importance, particularly those critical to the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration,” Omotayo continued.
Omotayo stressed that examining Nigeria’s land and resource systems was a key step in ensuring the success of the administration’s agenda for sustainable development.
Johnbull Amayaevbo, President and Founder of the Johnbull Amayaevbo Foundation, also addressed the conference, underscoring the importance of redefining land governance as a key driver of Nigeria’s sustainable development.
He pointed out that despite the country’s vast land resources, outdated policies and administrative bottlenecks had led to Nigeria’s low ranking in land registration.
According to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index, Nigeria ranks 169th out of 190 countries in property registration, with only three percent of urban land formally registered, according to the International Finance Corporation.
Amayaevbo also highlighted the alarming environmental degradation caused by unsustainable land use practices, citing the Food and Agriculture Organization’s estimate that Nigeria loses approximately 350,000 hectares of forest annually.
The Johnbull Amayaevbo Foundation President called for urgent intervention in land management and stated that the conference would become an annual platform for experts, stakeholders, and policymakers to engage, evaluate progress, and propose solutions for land governance reform.
Key proposals discussed at the conference included the establishment of an Office of the Valuer-General, modernizing land administration laws, enhancing land tenure security, and promoting sustainable land management practices.
“As we move forward with land governance reform in Nigeria, we must be inspired by global best practices while remaining attuned to our unique socio-cultural and economic realities,” Amayaevbo stated.
“The reforms we propose must be bold and visionary, yet practical and inclusive, ensuring no segment of society is left behind in the pursuit of sustainable development.” Amayaevbo concluded.
(NAN)
