Kaduna emerges model for land administration in Nigeria

Kaduna State has been recognised as a leading force in land administration and has been selected as a pilot state for the Nigeria Land Titling, Registration and Documentation Programme (NLTRDP).

The Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe, made this known during a courtesy visit by officials from the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the World Bank at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Monday.

Balarabe praised Governor Uba Sani for upgrading the Kaduna Geographic Information Service, noting that the improvements played a key role in Kaduna’s selection as a model state for others to emulate.

She acknowledged the state’s progress in digitising land administration but stressed the need for additional support to speed up ongoing reforms. She also reaffirmed Kaduna’s commitment to working with the Federal Government and the World Bank to ensure the success of the NLTRDP.

Speaking during the visit, the Director-General of KADGIS, Bashir Garba Ibrahim, commended the governor for introducing new revenue streams such as sectional titling—currently operational only in Federal Capital Territory and Lagos State. He added that initiatives like shop registration and the farm lease programme have further expanded the state’s revenue base.

Ibrahim revealed that Kaduna is in the process of regularising over 100 undocumented layouts to enable property owners to formally register their holdings. He, however, called for World Bank support to upgrade the state’s land administration system.

According to him, the current software cannot handle the growing volume of users and activities. He emphasised the need for a more robust system that allows residents to access bills, make payments, and download receipts online without visiting KADGIS offices.

He also disclosed that KADGIS has established a unit to manage federal land titles within the state, a move aimed at preventing multiple ownership claims.

Earlier, the delegation leader and Director of Lands and Urban Development, Alabi Collins, stated that the World Bank would support the NLTRDP initiative. He explained that the programme seeks to reform land governance in Nigeria by improving land titling and registration processes.

Collins added that the initiative is designed to unlock the economic potential of land assets for governments, businesses, and individuals through better documentation and transparency.