en.Wedoany.com Reported - Nigeria's Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to reforming the land management system to expand access to affordable housing for low-income earners and informal workers, stating that efficient land governance is crucial to addressing the housing shortage.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, made these remarks during the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Day at the 20th Africa International Housing Exhibition. Darma, represented by the Director of Public Buildings and Housing Development, Temitope Pemi, spoke on the theme "Land as a Tool for Affordable Housing for Low-Income Earners and Informal Workers in Africa." Darma stated that no affordable housing policy can succeed without an efficient, accessible, transparent, and secure land management system. He argued that land is the foundation of housing delivery, urban development, economic prosperity, and social inclusion. The Minister noted that rapid urbanization across Africa has widened the housing shortage and strained urban infrastructure, while access to traditional housing finance and formal land management systems remains limited for low-income families and informal workers. Many lack secure land titles, mortgage financing, and the ability to navigate the complexities of land acquisition and documentation, making homeownership a distant dream. The government is streamlining land management processes and adopting digital technologies to reduce housing costs and encourage private sector investment. Nigeria's Land Titling, Registration, and Documentation Program aims to expand land registration and improve access to housing finance, with the Ministry advancing digital land management through Geographic Information Systems, digital cadastral mapping, and electronic land records.
Director of Land and Housing Development, Collins Alabi, stated that without accessible, properly documented, well-planned, and serviced land, the goal of providing affordable housing for Nigerians and other Africans will be difficult to achieve. He urged the government to increase the supply of serviced land and modernize the land management system, noting that digitizing land records and ensuring transparent land allocation procedures will reduce delays, lower transaction costs, and enhance transparency.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, represented by the Director of Urban and Regional Planning, Mrs. Margaret Adejobi, stated that access to affordable housing depends on making land available, secure, and affordable. Millions of Africans, particularly low-income earners and informal sector workers, still face barriers to obtaining decent and affordable housing. He called for enhanced collaboration among all levels of government, development partners, financial institutions, and private sector stakeholders to address Africa's housing shortage.
