Housing Minister, Dangiwa Promises Inclusion, and Implementation of Relevant Recommendations in Land Reforms Strategy

By Esther Alexander

The Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa has assured the Ministry’s determination to eliminate bottlenecks hindering the growth of the housing sector and national development, notably the ineffective land administration system in the country.

This was disclosed in Abuja on Sunday when the distinguished members of the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reforms (PTCLR), presided over by Prof. Peter O. Adeniyi, convened with the Minister, in an effort to expedite the land administration process in Nigeria and guarantee that land is available, accessible, efficiently used, easily transferable, and convertible.

Arc. Dangiwa, while expressing support for the Committee’s commendable work despite challenges, assured Prof. Adeniyi, and other committee members of the commitment of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to drive through the recommendations of the PTCLR.

He noted that the Ministry will review and incorporate essential aspects of their work into its reform strategy for implementation.

The Minister also mentioned that to expedite this process, an Internal Ministerial Committee has been established to meticulously study the Committee’s submissions. A subsequent meeting with the PTCLR is scheduled within the next two weeks.

“I commended the team for the good work despite challenges and assured Prof. Adeniyi and other members that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has the political will to drive through their recommendations. As a Ministry, we will review and incorporate relevant aspects of their inputs into our land reform strategy towards implementing them for the good of the country. I have set up an Internal Ministerial Committee to study the Committee’s submissions and we will be meeting with them in the next two weeks,” he said.

During his presentation, Prof. Adeniyi noted the immense progress made by the committee over the years, including the production of a Draft Land Use Act, as well as Draft Regulations to cater to all aspects of the sector.

“The invitation hit me like a patient who receives, at the point of death, a life-saving oxygen. It is a truly “renewed hope for the realization of the PTCLR Slogan – Reform Land, Transform Nigeria”. We have over time tried to get the attention of critical stakeholders, government and policy leaders in the past to see that these regulations get the necessary backing, but unfortunately, nothing has come out of it,” he noted.

“So, you can imagine our excitement when we got the invitation from the Honourable Minister. We’ve not had such an opportunity before. Knowing the Minister and all that he did as Managing Director of FMBN, I know that he has great passion for this country and has the will to pursue any policy he puts his mind to. This is an opportunity for us to finally get the much-needed land reforms for the development of our country,” he said.

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“The reason why our Systematic Land Titling and Administration (SLTA) framework, which has been adopted by states like Kaduna and Kano, is simply the lack of legal backing. So, you find that the system is only valid within the parameters of the state but is not binding outside of the state. With a commission, that can be resolved,” he added.

The PTCLR was founded in 2009 to address issues with land governance and is made up of well-known specialists on land reforms. It has been in existence for 14 years. It has generated detailed suggestions and plans intended to change the nation’s land administration system. By releasing an estimated $300 billion in dead capital, these ideas have the potential to greatly improve land access and spur economic growth once put into practice.

The meeting is a positive move for the Ministry, which is giving land reforms top priority in order to simplify land administration and lower costs and speed for Nigerians.