A former President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Johnbull Amayaevbo, has called for a comprehensive modernization of land governance in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to boost investor confidence, expand internally generated revenue, and position Abuja as a globally competitive city.

Speaking at a lecture titled “From Compliance to Competitiveness: Positioning Abuja’s Land Governance Framework for Investment Confidence and Revenue Growth,” Amayaevbo emphasized that Abuja’s current land administration system must evolve from rigid, compliance-driven bureaucracy into a market-responsive framework that actively encourages investment and economic growth.

Drawing lessons from global cities such as Riyadh, Singapore, Vancouver, Barcelona, Curitiba, and Kigali, the expert highlighted that modern land governance can serve as a strategic economic tool. It not only shapes investor perception but also strengthens fiscal capacity and enables sustainable urban development.

“In contemporary urban economies, land governance has evolved beyond administrative functions. It now shapes investor confidence, revenue mobilization, and overall city competitiveness,” Amayaevbo said.

The NIESV expert cited Riyadh’s Vision 2030 as a benchmark, noting that large-scale master planning, state-led land assembly, integrated land-use regulation, and digitized land administration have reduced investor uncertainty and accelerated project execution. Similarly, Vancouver’s market-responsive land policies and Singapore’s long-term leasehold systems demonstrate the role of transparent and predictable land governance in attracting investment.

According to Amayaevbo, improving Abuja’s land governance framework will also enhance public sector revenue, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, and strengthen investor trust in the FCT property market. He urged policymakers to implement reforms that integrate digital land records, clear zoning regulations, and streamlined approval processes.

“Abuja has the potential to become a globally competitive capital. Effective land policy reform is key to attracting investors, encouraging sustainable urban growth, and increasing revenue,” he added.

Amayaevbo’s lecture highlighted the need for the FCT administration to adopt strategies that prioritize investor certainty, transparent land transactions, and urban planning aligned with economic growth objectives.

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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.

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