Ground rent crucial for revenue growth, says Dangiwa

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has emphasised the importance of ground rent payments in enhancing government revenue.

He stated this at the 29th Conference of Directors of Lands, held in Abuja recently.

“Non-compliance with ground rent has resulted in the loss of trillions of naira to the Federal Government,” Dangiwa stated, highlighting the financial repercussions of uncollected dues.

Dangiwa reflected on past conferences, noting that despite valuable discussions, progress in land administration had been slow.

He urged participants to move beyond dialogue and into actionable steps, stating, “We must move from talk to action.”

The minister underscored the urgency of addressing outstanding ground rent, giving all Federal Certificate of Occupancy title owners a 60-day notice to settle their debts.

He warned that failure to comply would lead to the revocation of C of Os.

“This revenue is much needed to deliver the Renewed Hope Agenda to Nigerians,” he said.

Dangiwa expressed hope for significant advancements by next year, urging all stakeholders to take their roles seriously.

“I hope that by next year’s conference, we will be celebrating progress in clear and measurable statistical terms,” he stated.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, also emphasised the need for equitable land stewardship.

He explained, “The management of land touches on vital issues that have profound implications for economic growth.”

The conference, themed “Equitable Land Stewardship: Challenges of Land Administration and Its Impact on Climate Change and Community Rights”, brought together stakeholders to discuss pressing land administration issues.

Participants reviewed the effectiveness of previous resolutions, advocating for the automation of land titling and improved coordination among agencies.