According to Abuja-based estate surveyor and valuer, Esv. Adamu Kasimu, the Act has failed to live up to its purpose due to flawed implementation and systemic contradictions.

He points out that while the law positions state governors as trustees of all land for every Nigerian, not just indigenes, this principle is rarely upheld in practice. “In many states, people are denied rights to land simply because they are considered non-indigenes,” he noted.

The Act’s entrenchment in Nigeria’s Constitution makes it especially hard to amend, as any change must follow the rigorous constitutional amendment process. Complicating matters further, certain clauses within the Land Use Act seem to conflict with constitutional rights. For instance, while Section 44 of the Constitution guarantees citizens’ rights to property and access to courts, the Act sidelines this right by vesting final authority in state land allocation committees during disputes over compensation for acquired land.

Kasimu also flagged inconsistencies in land transactions. “The Act requires prior approval from a governor before transferring property rights, but thankfully, courts have interpreted this provision more flexibly, allowing such transactions to be valid as long as they are registered.”

Even routine procedures like revoking land for non-payment of rent, often carried out without proper notice, create insecurity and discourage investment, he said.

According to Kasimu, every section of the Act—from 1 through 55—deserves a thorough review, particularly with regard to how land ownership is classified. The Act currently outlines several categories: Statutory Right of Occupancy (granted by governors), Customary Right of Occupancy (issued by local government chairs), Deemed Rights (for ancestral homes), and Federal Lands (recognized from pre-1978).

He also argued that land, one of the four pillars of production alongside labour, capital, and entrepreneurship, lacks institutional representation. “We have ministries for Labour, Finance, Trade and Investment—but nothing specifically dedicated to land. Instead, we lump land issues under Housing, which misses the point entirely,” he said.

Kasimu emphasized that until land administration is prioritized through structural reform and institutional recognition, Nigeria will continue to face policy inconsistencies and underutilization of one of its most critical assets.

The post Why the Land Use Act Needs a Complete Rethink – Estate Expert appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

A revocation notice signed by the Permanent Secretary in the FCT Administration, Mr Olusade Adesola said the minister took the decision, “in the exercise of the powers conferred on him under Section 28(5)(a) & (b) of the Land Use Act 1978”.

He said the lands were revoked “for continued contravention of the terms of development of the Right of Occupancy to wit non-development”.

Some of the allottees affected by the revocation include Lowe Lintas, Tourist Company of Nigeria, Coscharis Motors, CFA Motors, Chidol Properties among others.

In another statement, Director of Information and Communication in the FCTA, Muhammad Hazat Sule, said the minister has approved a three-month grace period for 189 titleholders, who have obtained Building Plan Approvals but are yet to commence development of on their property.

“The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), has graciously approved a grace period of three-months from the date of this publication for the underlisted titleholders who have obtained building plan approvals to commence development of their plots; failure of which their titles shall be revoked for continued contravention of the terms of development of the Right- of -Occupancy”, the statement declared.

Among those given the three-month grace are 21 embassies, 168 others.

Some of the diplomatic missions are the Embassy of Ireland, Embassy of France, Canadian High Commission, Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Embassy of Turkey, Embassy of the Peoples Republic of Angola, Embassy of the Republic Korea, Embassy of Philippines and Tanzania High Commission.

Others are Embassies of Syrian Republic, Iran, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Thailand, Algeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Cote D’Ivoire, Argentina, Togo, Indonesia and several government agencies including those of the FCT Administration.

Equally given a three-month grace are the Abuja National Mosque Council, Abuja National Mosque Management Committee, Daily Times of Nigeria, Elf Petroleum, Access Bank, Federal Housing Authority, Adamu Ajuji Waziri, Isa Yuguda, Eyitayo Lambo, Abba Gana, Mohammed Abubakar Rimi, Nigerian Navy, Gamji Construction Limited, Lagos State Liaison Office, Nigeria Customs Service, John Kennedy Opara, Federal Fire Service and a host of others.

Accordingly, the affected property owners are to do so within the stipulated period or have their title revoked in line with the provisions of the law, said Sule.

He said the gesture has only been extended to both individuals and corporate organizations who have shown desire to develop their property by obtaining Building Plan approvals but are yet to start proper development on their property situated within the Federal Capital City FCC.

Similarly, public institutions that have land titles within the Federal Capital City but are yet to develop same, have also been given a grace period of three months to commence development in order to avoid sanction.

“Thus, the Minister has extended this gesture to 189 property owners due to their desire to develop the property by obtaining Building Plan Approvals which is a prerequisite for development of any property in the Federal Capital Territory.

“The owners of these plots were exempted from revocation because they have already demonstrated firm commitment towards developing their property by obtaining necessary documents from the FCT Administration.

It urged the affected property owners to take advantage of the Minister’s gesture and develop their plots as published in some National Dailies, in line with the terms of Offer of the Right- Of- Occupancy.

“The FCT Administration, therefore, appealed to the affected Public Institutions who have been allocated plots within the FCC to commence development of their plots, failure of which their titles shall be revoked for continued contravention of the terms of development of the Right of Occupancy.

“The plots in these categories belong to individuals and corporate organizations, as well as Public Institutions who have continually failed to keep to the terms of agreement as contained in Section 28(5) (a) & (b) of the Land Use Act offering and conveying of the Right of Occupancy”.

Sources:Newstrends

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