Surveyors Decry Low Registration Of Land Titles

The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers
(NIESV), has said that many individuals own land, without title and has
estimated that only about three per cent of property owners have registered
land titles.

They have argued that land administration reform would make
land titling much more easier for owners of property as well as boost the
operation of mortgage in Nigeria which because of inefficient regulations and
law have become comatose.

Making this known in a press statement recently, the
President of the Institution, Mr. Emeka Eleh, stated that the Land Use Act was
established based on a minority report, after members of the body raised an
objection to it. He said that government was beginning to realise the setback
from it.

He said that the Land Use Act can provide a sustainable form
of revenue generation and funding for housing schemes, if amended, and that it
holds the key through property tax.

According to him “if government gives land freely, the
opportunities inherent in property tax will be open. Even more states will have
sources of money generation”.

The NIESV, therefore, urged the federal government to give
proper attention to land issue, so as to ensure that the reforms of the
nation’s land administration is accomplished.

Eleh also opined that such land reform should be adopted as
a strategy of improving government revenue as well as widening the income
generation base of all tiers of government in Nigeria.