The Federal Government has called on state governors across Nigeria to provide land for the development of mass housing estates and to support the implementation of a new National Land Registration and Titling Programme.
This appeal was made by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Architect Ahmed Dangiwa, during a media chat in Abuja on Thursday following a closed-door meeting with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), chaired by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State.
According to Dangiwa, the meeting focused on key housing and land reforms, particularly the Renewal of Cities and Estates Programme, as well as plans to establish a National Land Commission to operationalise the Land Use Act entrenched in Nigeria’s Constitution.
“We met with the Governors to update them on the Renewal of Cities and Estates Programme and to appeal to those yet to allocate land for federal housing projects,” Dangiwa said. “We also discussed the National Land Registration and Titling Programme, which will enhance tenure security, unlock economic potential, and boost internally generated revenue (IGR).”
The Minister clarified that the proposed National Land Commission was not designed to undermine the powers of state governments over land, but rather to build a collaborative framework between federal and state authorities.
He also revealed that a previous federal attempt to launch a land tax initiative failed due to lack of state involvement, hence the renewed effort to engage governors more inclusively. A joint federal-state committee is now being proposed to drive the reform process forward.
Speaking on behalf of the NGF, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State expressed support for the federal government’s plans, noting the potential benefits for investment, revenue, and urban development.
“The Minister shared updates on ongoing housing projects under the Renewed Hope Programme and highlighted how comprehensive land reform can transform land into economic capital for the states,” Uzodinma said.
Governors across the country reportedly welcomed the initiative, recognizing it as a strategic pathway to attract investments, enhance land-based taxation, and improve urban planning nationwide.
