Stakeholders in Nigeria’s housing sector have called for stronger government action to combat land grabbing, describing the menace as a major threat to property rights, investor confidence and affordable housing development.
The stakeholders made the call during a housing engagement held Thursday in Abuja, where they advocated improved land administration, digitised land records and stricter enforcement of existing laws to curb illegal occupation of land.
Speaking at the event, Permanent Secretary, Enugu State Liaison Office, Mr. Chukwuka Ugwu, said proper documentation of land ownership remains the most effective solution to the persistent challenge of land grabbing.
According to him, transparent land records would eliminate disputes over ownership and protect legitimate landowners from encroachment.
Ugwu noted that an efficient land administration system would also encourage investment in the housing sector.
He also argued that affordable housing cannot be achieved while the cost of construction materials continues to rise saying that, government must create policies that reduce the prices of cement, iron rods, timber and other essential building materials through subsidies or by encouraging local production.
“When building materials become affordable, developers will be able to build houses that the average Nigerian can afford,” he said.
He added that affordable housing would remain difficult to achieve unless government also addresses the rising cost of building materials through policies that encourage local production and make construction inputs more affordable.
Chief Executive Officer of Tout Mou Affordable Housing, Arc. Maryam Barkindo, recounted how her company spent about six months recovering a legally acquired project site that had been illegally occupied by land grabbers.
She said the affordable housing project, officially launched in May 2026 after nearly three years of planning, was delayed by the illegal occupation until the state government intervened through the legal process to restore the land.
“Our experience shows that the legal framework works when it is properly implemented. Investors should remain patient and continue to pursue lawful channels if they are on the right side of the law,” she said.
Barkindo explained that individuals involved in land grabbing often exploit weaknesses within the land administration system but stressed that stronger government institutions and effective enforcement could safeguard genuine investments.
She commended the Enugu State Government for supporting the recovery of the property and reaffirmed her company’s commitment to partnering with government on sustainable housing development.
The housing developer also advocated a transparent and digitised land registry capable of accurately identifying land ownership, preventing multiple allocations and resolving disputes promptly.
Managing Director of New Frontier Development, Hassan Usman, identified land grabbing as one of the biggest challenges confronting prospective homeowners and property developers.
He called for comprehensive reforms in land titling, cadastral mapping and the computerisation of land records to ensure that ownership details are easily verified.
According to him, a modern digital land administration system would strengthen investor confidence, reduce fraudulent claims and simplify property transactions.
Usman also urged government to simplify the process of obtaining Certificates of Occupancy and building approvals, noting that unnecessary delays increase development costs that are eventually passed on to home buyers.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s housing deficit of about 14 million units, he said improving land administration and attracting long-term financing into the housing sector would significantly accelerate housing delivery.
Also speaking, Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and Board Member of IEEE Member and Geographic Activities, Engr. Abdullateef Aliyu, called for stronger collaboration between government and the private sector to address challenges facing the housing sector.
Aliyu said Nigeria should adopt successful housing and land administration models from other countries while adapting them to local realities.
He expressed optimism that with effective public-private partnerships, improved governance and sustained reforms, Nigeria could overcome challenges such as land grabbing and significantly improve housing development in the coming years.