The Federal Government says it will expand land administration reforms to boost access to affordable housing for low-income earners and informal workers across the country. The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, stated this on Thursday during the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Day at the ongoing 20th Africa International Housing Show (AIHS). Darma was represented by the Director and Head of Department, Public Buildings and Housing Development, Mr Temitope Pemi. He spoke on the theme, ‘Land as a Tool for Affordable Housing for Low-Income Earners and Informal Workers in Africa.’ He said no affordable housing policy could succeed without an efficient, accessible, transparent and secure land administration system. “Land remains the foundation upon which housing delivery, urban development, economic prosperity and social inclusion are built,” he said. According to the minister, rapid urbanisation across Africa had widened housing deficits and increased pressure on urban infrastructure. He said low-income households and millions of informal workers remained among the least served by conventional housing finance and formal land administration systems. “Many are unable to obtain secure land titles, access mortgage finance or navigate the complexities associated with land acquisition and documentation. According to him, “The Nigerian Land Titling, Registration and Documentation Programme seeks to expand land registration and facilitate greater access to housing finance Africans and Diaspora,” He added that the ministry was advancing digital land administration through Geographic Information Systems, digital cadastral mapping and electronic land records. Also speaking, Director, Lands and Housing Development Department, Collins Alabi, said affordable housing would remain difficult to achieve without accessible, properly documented, well-planned and serviced land. “Without accessible, properly documented, well-planned and serviced land, the objective of providing affordable housing for Nigerians and other Africans will remain difficult to achieve,” he said.
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