The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has commended the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS) for its leading role in advancing land titling, registration, and documentation reforms in Nigeria.
The commendation was given during a courtesy visit to EdoGIS in Benin City by a federal delegation led by the Director and Head of the Department of Lands and Housing Development, Alabi Collins.
Collins said the visit formed part of a nationwide sensitisation campaign carried out in partnership with the World Bank, aimed at modernising land administration systems across the country.
He explained that the Land Titling, Registration and Documentation Programme is designed to improve efficiency in land management, enhance transparency, and make land records more accessible nationwide.
According to him, the reform will also strengthen land tenure security, unlock capital from untitled land, improve access to housing finance, and boost internally generated revenue for states.
“This visit is part of a nationwide sensitisation campaign in partnership with the World Bank. It is a landmark reform initiative designed to modernise land administration throughout Nigeria,” he said.
Collins further praised EdoGIS and the Edo State Government for their collaboration with federal authorities, particularly in the identification and documentation of federal lands within the state.
He described EdoGIS as a model institution for effective cooperation between federal and state agencies in land governance.
He urged the agency to formalise its participation in the initiative by submitting a state-level needs assessment to qualify for World Bank support funding.
He also disclosed that the official launch of the programme is scheduled to take place in July at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, with state governors expected to participate.
Also speaking during the visit, the Federal Controller of Housing and Urban Development in Edo State, Valerie Osaretin Daubry, encouraged EdoGIS to present a clear implementation plan to maximise available funding opportunities under the programme.
In response, the Managing Director of EdoGIS, Innocent Bello, welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation for the recognition of the agency’s role in land administration reforms.
He highlighted EdoGIS’s achievements and ongoing efforts to strengthen land management systems in Edo State, in line with government priorities on improving ease of doing business and attracting investment.
Dr. Bello assured the federal delegation of EdoGIS’s full support for the initiative, noting that the agency remains committed to promoting good governance, economic development, and efficient land administration.
The visit concluded with the presentation of a working document outlining implementation steps for the programme, marking a new phase of collaboration between federal and state land administration authorities.
