The Federal Government of Nigeria has intensified efforts to collect outstanding ground rent payments, issuing a 60-day notice to property owners with federal Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) to settle their debts or face revocation of their land titles.
This push comes as the government seeks to recover trillions of naira lost in uncollected revenues.
Speaking at the 29th Conference of Directors of Land in Abuja, Minister of Housing and Urban Development Ahmed Dangiwa stressed the importance of efficient land revenue collection for funding critical projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that the current system has been undermined by challenges, including residents’ associations obstructing government access to estates for billing and enforcement.
“Non-compliance has cost the federal government trillions in lost revenue,” Dangiwa said, addressing the gathering of policymakers, land experts, and community representatives. “This revenue is essential for implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda for Nigerians. Consequently, all federal C of O holders are given 60 days to clear outstanding ground rents and statutory fees. Failure to comply will lead to revocation of their titles.”
The conference, themed Equitable Land Stewardship: Challenges of Land Administration and its Impact on Climate Change and Community Rights, also addressed complex land laws and administrative hurdles. Dangiwa highlighted that issues within Nigeria’s land laws, especially the Land Use Act of 1978, and lengthy land titling procedures discourage many Nigerians from formalizing land ownership, leading to a high percentage of unregistered land.
Dangiwa stated, “Our land administration is in a state of emergency, posing an economic and social development risk. Over 90% of land in Nigeria remains unregistered, representing an estimated $300 billion in ‘dead capital’—land assets unable to be used for credit or investment, especially in rural areas.”
In partnership with the World Bank, the ministry aims to improve land registration and implement an electronic revenue collection system to streamline payments. The conference communique called for legal reforms to support women’s land rights, an electronic mortgage asset registry, and an updated land-use compensation framework.
Real estate expert Musa Ibrahim urged the government to extend the 60-day timeline, saying, “Ground rent is a continuous tax obligation, and a sudden deadline could burden property owners. It’s important to give people adequate time to comply.”
As the federal government moves forward with this collection initiative, it hopes to secure a more sustainable revenue base to fund infrastructure and essential services across the country.
