The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) has called on the Federal Government to reform Abuja’s land governance framework, citing weak coordination, fragmented administration, and inefficient titling systems as barriers to investment and land-based revenue generation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The appeal was made during the 32nd Annual Johnwood Ekpenyong Memorial Lecture in Abuja, which gathered policymakers, industry experts, and real estate stakeholders under the theme: “From Compliance to Competitiveness: Positioning Abuja Land Governance Framework for Investment Confidence and Revenue Growth.”
Delivering the lecture, NIESV Immediate Past President Johnbull Osarume emphasized that effective land governance goes beyond regulatory compliance. “Land governance is about managing confidence. Weak systems erode trust, and without trust, investment will not flow,” he said.
Key recommendations included establishing a unified land governance architecture in the FCT, with harmonized workflows, standardized data, and clearly defined service timelines across land-related agencies. Osarume also advocated for a Land Governance Coordination Council to oversee compliance, resolve disputes, and deploy a single digital platform to streamline land applications, tracking, and service delivery.
The lecture further urged the transformation of Abuja’s land records into a fully automated digital land market, encompassing allocation, titling, valuation, consent, and payment processes within guaranteed timelines. “Digitization will reposition land as a productive economic asset rather than a dormant resource,” Osarume noted.
Another critical area highlighted was the formalization of peri-urban land holdings, where unclear titles and large industrial estates remain unattractive to investors. NIESV President Victor Alonge recommended simplified, low-cost titling frameworks and phased area-based registration to integrate these lands into formal planning and revenue systems.
“Over 90 percent of land in Nigeria remains unregistered. Such land is dead capital that cannot be leveraged for credit or investment,” Alonge said, stressing the importance of professional expertise and ethical standards in credible land administration.
Alonge drew lessons from cities like Singapore, Kigali, and Riyadh, demonstrating how efficient land governance promotes urban growth, investor confidence, and revenue mobilization. He concluded that Abuja’s untapped land potential could be fully leveraged with structured reforms, professional integration, and technological adoption.
The Johnwood Ekpenyong Memorial Lecture, now in its 32nd edition, honors the founding president of NIESV while reinforcing the relevance of estate surveying and valuation to national development.
