On land reform

Nigeria’s Minister of Housing & Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has committed to collaborating with the National Assembly and relevant…

Nigeria’s Minister of Housing & Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has committed to collaborating with the National Assembly and relevant key players in reviewing the Land Use Act to align with current realities. During a meeting with a World Bank delegation in Abuja, he highlighted that key provisions of the Act, particularly those related to compensation, are no longer relevant in guiding land-related matters in the country. He said the land and urban & regional planning department directors have been instructed to develop a robust framework to review the Act. He also stressed the importance of gathering accurate data to inform effective housing policy decisions.

Mr Dangiwa has pledged to review the Land Use Act, which is a major piece of legislation governing land ownership and use in Nigeria. This law has been in place since 1978 and has been criticised for being outdated and inefficient. If the Land Use Act is revised, it will improve land accessibility, making it easier for individuals and businesses to access land; enhance land tenure security, reducing the risk of land disputes and evictions; cause social inclusion, lowering inequalities in land ownership; address underutilised land resources, boosting agricultural and real estate development and contributing to economic growth and job creation. This proposed reform could encourage the development of a more efficient land market, attracting investments in real estate and agriculture and establishing a comprehensive land registration system that would improve land documentation, reducing land-related disputes and fraud. The reform could remove deterrents to investments in real estate and agriculture, attracting domestic and foreign investments and stimulating economic growth. However, reviewing the Land Use Act has been one of the consistently struck-down amendments in every round of constitutional review because it is fundamental to how the Nigerian state controls two key resources: land and crude oil. It is a tall order on the minister’s part, even though it is an important and necessary amendment. However, it requires massive political will to pull through as it strikes at the core of Nigeria’s political economy. We strongly doubt that political will exists in the Tinubu administration and file this under the nice talking points new ministers make to foreign audiences, which is unlikely to fly domestically.