The federal government says ongoing land administration reforms could unlock more than N300 billion in dormant land assets across the country as part of efforts to expand housing access and strengthen Nigeria’s property market.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the Africa Women in Housing and Construction Conference and Business Expo 2026.

Belgore said the reforms are being implemented under the National Land Titling, Registration and Documentation Programme, which aims to digitise land records, improve land governance and strengthen tenure security nationwide.

According to him, fragmented and poorly documented land records have left huge assets untapped within the country’s housing sector.

“The National Land Titling, Registration and Documentation Programme is digitising fragmented land records and unlocking over N300 billion in dormant land assets,” he said.

He explained that the reforms are part of broader efforts by the ministry to address housing challenges through improved land administration, housing finance and public private partnerships (PPPs).

Belgore said the government is also implementing the Renewed Hope Estates and Cities Programme, which aims to deliver over 50,000 housing units nationwide through collaboration with private developers.

According to him, 14 housing project sites are currently active across the country, comprising three major housing cities and eleven estates.
He said the largest project is the Renewed Hope City in Karsana, Abuja, which will deliver 3,112 housing units when completed.

Belgore added that women are playing critical roles within the ministry and across the built environment, contributing to housing delivery, urban renewal and infrastructure development.

Also speaking, the convener of the conference, Flora Anne, said the platform was created to connect women professionals across architecture, engineering, construction, town planning and real estate development.

She said the initiative aims to address barriers facing women in the built environment, particularly in accessing finance and property ownership.

“Most times, professionals in the built environment work in silos,” she said.

“What we are trying to do is bring architects, quantity surveyors, town planners and builders together so we can discuss the challenges and find solutions.”

Anne said access to finance remains one of the biggest obstacles facing women developers in the sector.