The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving access to land as part of efforts to make homeownership more attainable for low-income Nigerians.

To advance this goal, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development will lead high-level discussions on land administration and reforms during the 20th Africa International Housing Show (AIHS 2026 – Legacy Edition).

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Babatunde Haiba.

According to the statement, the Land Administration Session, scheduled to hold from July 13 to 18, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, forms part of the government’s broader strategy to improve land accessibility for affordable and low-cost housing, particularly for low-income earners and workers in the informal sector.

The event will bring together key stakeholders, including state commissioners for lands, directors of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), surveyors-general, directors of lands, policymakers, investors, development partners and other professionals in the housing sector.

The ministry said participants would explore practical solutions to improve land administration and accelerate housing delivery across Nigeria and Africa.

With the theme, “Housing Solutions for Low-Income and Informal Workers in Africa,” the conference will focus on strengthening land governance, streamlining land administration processes and leveraging technology to create transparent, efficient and investment-friendly systems.

Discussions will cover land digitisation, automation, property registration reforms, land titling, GIS, geospatial technologies, cadastral management and strategies to expand land access for affordable housing projects.

The ministry added that the session would also promote stronger collaboration between state governments, housing finance institutions, development finance organisations, private investors and international development partners.

States participating in the event are expected to showcase ongoing land reform initiatives, exchange best practices and engage technical and financial partners to develop viable housing projects.

The ministry maintained that efficient and transparent land administration remains critical to achieving affordable housing targets and promoting inclusive urban development nationwide.

Chief Executive Officer of the Africa International Housing Show, Festus Adebayo, said the session would strengthen collaboration between the ministry and industry stakeholders to advance land reforms and boost housing development across the country.

The post FG to Lead Land Reform Talks at AIHS 2026 to Boost Affordable Housing appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The Chairman of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), African Zonal Network, Mohammed Kabir, has commended Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for his administration’s commitment to reforming land governance to promote development, enhance security, and attract investment to the state.

Kabir, who led a five-day technical mission to Ekiti, spoke in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday during the Fit-for-Purpose Land Administration intervention programme themed “Strengthening Innovative Approaches Towards Enhanced Land Governance.”

The programme, organised under the Global Land Tool Network Catalytic Intervention Initiative, was a collaboration between the Ekiti State Government, the United Nations-Habitat, and FIG, bringing together key stakeholders in land administration across the state.

Kabir lauded the state’s strides in developing a statewide surveying and mapping framework, a Geographic Information System (GIS), and a modernised Land Information Management System — initiatives he said had drawn international attention.

He noted that with only about three per cent of Nigeria’s land formally registered, the country faces major challenges in national development, security, and planning. He praised Ekiti’s proactive measures as a model for improving land governance and economic growth.

“The international community recognises the strides being made by Governor Oyebanji and his team in improving livelihoods, strengthening security, and enhancing land governance,” Kabir said. “We are here to offer technical support, build capacity, and deepen partnerships that can help sustain these efforts.”

He added that accurate land data could empower local farmers and residents to access credit facilities and boost productivity through land-backed collateral.

Also speaking, the Technical Adviser to the Governor on eGIS and Land Management, Akintobi Olusanmi, highlighted the state’s progress in digitising land processes. He said key infrastructure such as Continuous Operating Reference Stations had been installed, while aerial imagery of the entire state was being captured to ensure precision in planning and development.

Olusanmi further disclosed that the state’s comprehensive master plan project, initiated through a Memorandum of Understanding with the UN-Habitat in June 2023, was nearing a critical stage.

“The project has reached the contribution agreement phase, which is undergoing final legal review,” he said. “Once concluded, the drafting of the master plan will commence immediately and is expected to be completed within the first six months.”

The post FIG Commends Oyebanji for Driving Land Administration Reforms in Ekiti appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

Ground rent is a property tax charged and collected by the government on land with a Certificate of Occupancy or Right of Ownership. It is payable by a property owner within a given period.

Findings from Source shows that few states are enforcing ground rent collection, with Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, and the FCT leading in the collections.

Experts say that the government could earn much more from ground rent if it enforced efficient rent collection through Geographic Information System (GIS).

Read Also: UNN: Inside Story of How Deity Frustrated Completion of Multi-million Naira Structure, Maryam Babangida Building 

They also say that the government should revoke the titles of property owners who fail to pay ground rent.

Non-payment of ground rent is a major challenge for the housing sector in Nigeria. It is also a major source of lost revenue for the government.

The government should take steps to address the issue of non-payment of ground rent. This could include enforcing efficient rent collection through GIS, revoking the titles of property owners who fail to pay ground rent, and educating the public about the importance of paying ground rent.

Read Also: Nigeria’s Dream of Owning a Home Dashed by Soaring Costs of Building Material

Source: DailyTrust

The post Nigeria Losing Trillions of Naira to Unpaid Ground Rent appeared first on Housing TV Africa.