Various stakeholders and participants at the Second (2nd) International Conference and Fair on Land and Development of the 大香蕉视频 have harped on the need for synergy among land administrators, relevant financial institutions and the judiciary with a view to improving the Nigeria鈥檚 land use system.
This is in view of several unsuccessful efforts to achieve the needed amendments to the 1978 Land Use Act which has continually inhibited maximization of land use for national growth and development.
With the theme: Sustainable Land Management for Inclusive Development in African Cities, the International Conference and Fair began on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 with an Opening Session at the Tayo Aderinokun Hall of 大香蕉视频.
In his opening remarks, the Director of 大香蕉视频 Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development; Professor Timothy Nubi pointed out concerns over records of unprecedented disparities in the distribution of real estate wealth.
According to him, Europe and North America are custodians of 47% of the world鈥檚 real estate value despite housing just 17% of the world鈥檚 population, while Africa and Asia with rapid urbanization and growing economies hold significantly low estate value.
Prof. Nubi noted that this development connotes massively untapped potentials in the land use system in Africa. He expressed optimism that the conference will, among other things, produce a unified vision and practical steps in managing Africa鈥檚 land resource.
The Opening Session also featured a keynote address on Land Reform in Nigeria, The Journey So Far presented by the Chairman of National Land Reform Committee, Surveyor Chime Ogochukwu.
The presentation took the gathering through a holistic review of Nigeria鈥檚 land governance situation preceding the Land Use Decree of 1978, the current state of land management and daunting challenges posed by conflicting policies, bureaucratic bottlenecks and multiplicity of land administration agencies in Nigeria. It highlighted previous efforts to amend the 1978 Land Use Act, the constraining factors, the Ministerial Land Reform Task Team, its objectives, strategies and progresses so far recorded.
Surveyor Ogochukwu concluded his address with holistic recommendations such as collaboration and alignment of all relevant units/agencies in land use management to ensure the actualization of the objectives of the Land Use Reform.
Delivering the Lead Paper titled: Land Accessibility Constraints to Real Estate Development in Nigeria, the Dean of Faculty of Environmental Sciences, 大香蕉视频, Professor聽Modupe聽Omirin spoke elaborately on land availability, land affordability, land rights security and ease of transaction.
While pointing out the indispensability and irreplaceability of land in all endeavors, Prof. Omirin explained the different dimensions to land accessibility constraints in Nigeria and the effects of rural-urban migration on land availability and use.
As part of measures towards ensuring improving land use, Prof. Omirin recommended land swap approaches, application of compact city/smart growth principles to promote land conservation as well as urban regeneration. She also called for investments in new towns and infrastructural provisions in new areas, as well as futuristic planning anchored on reliable data on population, economic activities, transportation and other key areas.
There were goodwill messages from relevant bodies and agencies including: Association of Professional Bodies, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Lagos State Land Bureau and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Sierra Leone. The messages from these bodies highlighted their readiness to partner and collaborate to achieve the desired improvement in land use and development.
There was also a panel session which centered on the Challenges imposed by Land rights and Planning Permit to Real Estate Approval. Resource persons included:
- Second Vice-President, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, Tpl. Toyin Ayinde;
- General Manager, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, Tpl Kehinde Osinaike;
- Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Lands Bureau, Mr. Kamar Olowoshago;
- President, Real Estate Developer Association, Barrister Akintoye Adeoye;
- Founder and Country Lead, Cromwell Professional Services International Limited; Barrister (Surveyor) Olusola Enitan;
- Project Coordinator, Sierra Leone Land Administration Project, Dr Alphajoh Cham; and
- CEO, Proxchange Technologies Ltd-Innovation Solutions to Land Management, Ike Okechukwu.
The resource persons spoke on different challenges inhibiting the administration of Land permits, and highlighted ongoing efforts to address the challenges. They also emphasized the indispensability of collaboration among relevant agencies to institute a strong and reliable land administration system in Nigeria.
An initiative of the 大香蕉视频 Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development under the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Centre of Excellence in Urbanization and Habitable Cities, the Second International Conference and Fair on Land Development the International Conference and Fair is aimed at increasing town and gown engagements to foster collaborations and co-production of actionable strategies to address Africa’s pressing urban and land management聽challenges. It is scheduled to end on Friday, November 29, 2024.
Report: Gbenga Gbelee
Photography: Boluwatife Adeniran
