The Federal Government has commended the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS) for its progress in land titling, digital land administration, and property documentation reforms, describing the agency as a model for modern land governance in Nigeria.
The commendation was delivered during a courtesy visit to EdoGIS in Benin City by a federal delegation led by Alabi Collins, Director and Head of the Department of Lands and Housing Development. The visit formed part of a nationwide sensitisation programme being implemented in partnership with the World Bank to modernise land administration systems across Nigeria.
According to Collins, the Federal Government’s Land Titling, Registration and Documentation Programme aims to improve efficiency, transparency, and accessibility within Nigeria’s land management system while strengthening land tenure security nationwide.
Digital land reforms gaining momentum
The federal delegation praised EdoGIS for aligning with national efforts to digitise land records and modernise land administration processes.
Collins stated that digitised land systems could unlock economic value from untitled assets, improve access to housing finance, reduce land disputes, and increase internally generated revenue for states. He added that EdoGIS has demonstrated strong cooperation with federal authorities, particularly in documenting federal land assets within Edo State.
“This visit is part of a nationwide sensitisation campaign in partnership with the World Bank. It is a landmark reform initiative designed to modernise land administration throughout Nigeria,” Collins said during the visit.
The Federal Government also encouraged EdoGIS to submit a detailed needs assessment to qualify for technical and financial support under the reform initiative.
Land titling reforms seen as economic catalyst
Nigeria’s land administration sector has increasingly become a focus of economic reform discussions due to the large volume of untitled land assets across the country.
According to the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, less than 5% of land in Nigeria is formally titled, limiting access to mortgage financing, investment opportunities, and secure property ownership.
Housing experts argue that digitised land records and efficient property registration systems could significantly improve investor confidence in Nigeria’s real estate sector while unlocking dormant capital tied to informal land ownership structures.
The Federal Government recently estimated that improved land registration systems could unlock more than $150 billion in dormant land capital nationwide through the proposed National Land Registration, Documentation and Titling Programme.
EdoGIS positioned as reform model
During the engagement, EdoGIS Managing Director Innocent Bello reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting the national reform agenda and strengthening land governance in Edo State.
Bello highlighted EdoGIS’s ongoing efforts to improve land administration efficiency, transparency, and ease of doing business through technology-driven systems.
The Edo State Government has intensified digital governance reforms in recent months, including restructuring land administration functions under EdoGIS as part of broader efforts to centralise land management and improve operational efficiency.
Industry stakeholders note that digital land systems are increasingly becoming critical infrastructure for urban planning, housing finance, tax administration, and real estate investment across emerging economies.
Digital land systems gaining wider global relevance
Global studies on land reform suggest that digitised land administration systems can strengthen property rights, improve economic productivity, and enhance transparency in land transactions.
Research on Rwanda’s land registration reforms, for example, showed that integrated digital land registries improved property ownership documentation, enhanced mortgage access, and strengthened revenue collection systems.
Experts say Nigeria’s ongoing land reform initiatives could produce similar long-term benefits if implementation remains consistent and supported by state-level cooperation.
Outlook for Nigeria’s land administration reforms
The Federal Government’s endorsement of EdoGIS reflects growing national attention on land digitisation as a key driver of housing development, investment expansion, and economic formalisation.
As states continue to modernise land records and strengthen property registration systems, policymakers expect improved land governance to support broader objectives tied to housing finance, infrastructure development, and urban planning.
The success of ongoing reforms will likely depend on sustained institutional collaboration, technology adoption, legal clarity, and public confidence in land administration processes across Nigeria.
