Vice President Kashim Shettima said yesterday that Nigeria’s Land Use Act is long overdue for review, adding that the federal government is working towards producing a suitable act that will attract investments.
The vice president made the disclosure in Abuja on Thursday while delivering a keynote address at the National Land Conference organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in collaboration with the Johnbull Amayaevbo Foundation with the theme “Reforming Land Governance for Sustainable Development in Nigeria,”
Represented by Deputy Chief of Staff to the President in the Office of the Vice President. Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, Shettima said, “The Land Use Act of 1978 has been the legal and policy framework for our land ownership, management, and administration and was conceived to simplify land administration and ensure equitable distribution and ownership.
“However, the Act, now 48 years old, is undeniably due for review and reform. Indeed, over the years, it has sparked considerable debates and faced constructive criticism from scholars, public commentators, policy makers, and humanities.
“The time has therefore come for a thorough assessment to identify necessary amendments and ensure improvement in the well-off socio-economic landscape as well as attract the necessary investments into the country, “ he said.
Also in his address, ESV Johnbull Amayaevbo Osarumen, noted that despite abundant land resources, Nigeria’s land governance framework remains encumbered by outdated policies, inconsistent implementation with barely 3 per cent of urban land registered.
He also proposed an independent authority tasked with auditing land-related matters, ensuring accountability, and strengthening land administration in Nigeria.(Daily trust)
