Nigeria Risks Losing More Wealth as $300 Billion Remains Locked in Undocumented Real Estate
Nigeria Risks Losing More Wealth as $300 Billion Remains Locked in Undocumented Real Estate
Nigeria’s real estate sector is facing a major economic challenge as over $300 billion worth of landed assets remain trapped due to poor documentation and weak land registration systems across the country.
The Federal Government disclosed that more than 90 percent of land in Nigeria is either unregistered or untitled, making it difficult for property owners to use their assets as collateral for loans, investments, and other economic opportunities.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, raised concerns over the longstanding challenges affecting land administration in Nigeria, describing the current registration process as slow, cumbersome, expensive, and outdated. According to him, the country has operated a non-compulsory land registration system since 1883, resulting in less than 10 percent of land being formally documented after more than 140 years.
The minister explained that undocumented land has created what experts describe as “dead capital,” preventing millions of Nigerians from unlocking the economic value of their properties.
To address the challenge, the Federal Government has introduced the National Land Registration and Documentation Programme alongside the Land4Growth initiative aimed at modernising land administration, digitising records, and improving transparency in property registration nationwide.
Dangiwa noted that the reforms are expected to boost internally generated revenue, improve access to credit facilities, encourage investment, and strengthen sectors such as housing, agriculture, infrastructure, and urban development.
He also commended states already adopting digital land systems, saying technology-driven reforms would help restore confidence in Nigeria’s property sector and reduce disputes associated with land ownership.
Experts believe that proper documentation and digitisation of land assets could unlock massive economic opportunities for individuals, businesses, and governments while accelerating Nigeria’s economic growth.
