Nigeria Can Attract More Investment, Create Wealth via Secure, Efficient Land Administration

BY OPEYEMI MORADEKE ADEBAYOMI, ESQ. Lawyer, Real Estate Consultant, Corporate Governance Professional and Public Affairs Commentator

Nigeria does not have a shortage of land. What we have is a shortage of certainty around land. Across the country, millions of hectares remain available for residential development, agriculture, commercial projects, industrial expansion and infrastructure. Yet, for many investors, the question is not whether Nigeria has enough land. The real question is whether an investor can acquire land, verify its ownership, perfect title and develop it without spending years navigating uncertainty, multiple claims and administrative bottlenecks.

That is where Nigeria’s land administration system becomes an economic issue.

Land is one of the most important forms of wealth in any economy. When properly documented, transferable and protected by law, it becomes an asset that can attract financing, support businesses, create jobs and generate long-term wealth. When ownership is uncertain or documentation is difficult to obtain, the same land becomes a source of disputes, delays and lost economic opportunities.

If Nigeria wants to attract more investment through real estate, land administration must be treated as economic infrastructure. From land ownership to investable assets

The conversation about real estate investment in Nigeria often focuses on location, property prices and infrastructure. These are important, but they are not enough.

An investor wants certainty. Who owns the land? Is the title genuine? Has the property been previously sold? Is there an encumbrance? Can the title be verified quickly? Can it be transferred without unnecessary delays? Can the property be used as collateral? Can an investor confidently develop it without the fear of litigation appearing years after purchase?

These questions determine whether land becomes productive capital or remains trapped wealth.