Minister Atah Salutes Valuers on International Estate Valuation Day   Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Abdullahi Yusuf Atah, has extended warm felicitations to estate surveyors and valuers across the country as they commemorate International Estate Valuation Day.   Addressing  the members of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers  at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (FMHUD) headquarters, the Minister praised the critical contributions of valuation professionals to Nigeria’s real estate and economic landscape.   Minister Atah emphasized the pivotal role of estate valuers in promoting sustainable urban development.    He acknowledged their expertise in property assessment, investment evaluation, and guiding economic policy through accurate asset valuation.   The event was marked by a vibrant atmosphere, as participants donned branded green golf shirts and caps bearing the celebration’s logo, symbolizing unity and pride in the profession.   Minister Atah urged valuers to remain committed to professionalism and innovation, underscoring the government’s readiness to collaborate with stakeholders in the real estate sector to achieve national housing and development objectives.   This year’s celebration, themed “Transform, Invest, Thrive: Optimizing Real Estate Asset Finance and Taxation,” includes a week-long conference aimed at enhancing the skills and proficiency of estate valuers.   The programme focuses on refreshing practitioners on the evolving role of valuation in diverse sectors, from financial planning to real estate investment and taxation.   International Estate Valuation Day, especially significant to members of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), highlights the indispensable role of valuers in driving economic stability through precise property assessments.    The day also serves as a platform for public advocacy, educating citizens on the professional and statutory responsibilities of estate valuers in national development.   Earlier in the celebration, ESV Rashidat Folake Odusiga, Chairman of NIESV’s Abuja branch, led a sensitization tour across the Federal Capital Territory.    She noted the impressive turnout and professionalism displayed by members, stressing the importance of public awareness on the value and impact of accurate property valuation. ...

Nigeria Set to Present Renewed Hope Agenda for Land Administration at 2025 World Bank Land Conference, Washington DC, USA    The Federal Government of Nigeria will be presenting its bold and transformative Renewed Hope Agenda for Land Administration at the 2025 World Bank Land Conference scheduled to hold from May 5–8, 2025, in Washington, D.C., United States.   Leading the Nigerian delegation is the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, alongside the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, and key Directors of the Ministry. Their participation reflects Nigeria’s strong commitment to modernizing land governance as a critical enabler of economic development, housing delivery, climate resilience, and poverty reduction.   The conference, with the theme “Securing Land Tenure and Access for Climate Action: From Awareness to Action,” convenes global experts and government leaders to explore innovations that ensure equitable land access and secure tenure in the face of climate challenges.   On Tuesday, May 7, Arc. Dangiwa will speak at a high-level panel session titled “Global Land Governance and Tenure: A Call to Action.” He will share Nigeria’s plans to roll out a National Land Titling, Registration, and Documentation Programme that integrates existing state-level initiatives into a unified national framework. The programme aims to digitize land records, reduce transaction costs, expand tenure security, and unlock over ₦300 billion in dormant land assets across the country.   “Through the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are repositioning land as a tool for empowerment, investment, and national prosperity,” said Minister Dangiwa. “Our goal is simple - ensure every Nigerian, especially in underserved communities, can access secure land titles and use them as a platform for growth.”   In addition to panel engagements, the Ministry’s team will use the conference to strengthen partnerships with global institutions, explore digital solutions for land management, and learn from other countries’ success stories.   The World Bank Land Conference 2025 is expected to attract over 1,000 participants from across the globe, offering a unique platform for Nigeria to showcase its leadership in land sector reform and commitment to building a more inclusive and economically vibrant future.     ...

Housing Ministry, NIWA to Harmonise Shoreline Development Licensing — Joint Committee Set Up   Abuja, 30 April 2025 – The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (FMHUD) and the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) have agreed to strengthen collaboration and establish a unified standard procedure for licensing developments on the Lagos shoreline.   This decision was reached at a high-level meeting held at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja, between the leadership of both institutions, led by the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, and the Managing Director of NIWA, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji.   In his remarks, the Honourable Minister emphasized the urgent need for both institutions to work together as “one government” to eliminate regulatory conflicts, avoid duplication of mandates, and ensure orderly, sustainable urban development—especially in critical areas such as the Lagos shoreline.   “Our operations intersect and are connected,” the Minister noted. “We must act together to bring order by ensuring that our actions follow a clear regulatory framework that respects both the law and our respective institutional mandates.”   To this end, both parties agreed to set up a joint technical committee to define standard procedures and streamline the process for licensing shoreline developments in Lagos. The committee will comprise representatives from FMHUD, NIWA, and other relevant stakeholders. Its terms of reference will include clarifying roles, eliminating overlaps, enabling data sharing, and recommending sustainable, enforceable guidelines for shoreline development.   During the meeting, Arc. Dangiwa reiterated the distinct mandates of each stakeholder involved: the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development as the administrator of land titles on federal shorelines and national urban policy custodian; NIWA as the regulator of inland waterways infrastructure; and the Lagos State Government as the authority on physical planning and development control within its constitutional jurisdiction.   “Our Ministry, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, is charged with the issuance and administration of land titles on federal shorelines in accordance with the Land (Title Vesting, etc.) Act of 1975, and the broader framework of the Land Use Act. We are also responsible for shaping national urban development policies that promote sustainable, inclusive, and orderly growth. The Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), under the NIWA Act of 2004, is entrusted with the responsibility of regulating inland waterways—including dredging, ferry services, and permits for water-based infrastructure—on declared federal waterways such as the Lagos Lagoon. The Lagos State Government, empowered by the 1999 Constitution and its own planning laws, is responsible for overseeing physical development, building permits, and urban planning within its jurisdiction, including shoreline areas not under direct federal control”, Arc. Dangiwa.   In his own remarks, the Managing Director of NIWA, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, commended the Honourable Minister for his leadership and proactive engagement, describing the meeting as “a significant step toward resolving longstanding institutional overlaps.”   He added, “NIWA is committed to working with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and other stakeholders to ensure that shoreline developments, especially in Lagos, are carried out in a safe, lawful, and environmentally responsible manner. We welcome the creation of this joint committee and look forward to developing a seamless, coordinated framework for the benefit of the Nigerian people.”   The meeting marks a continuation of earlier engagements between both institutions and signals a renewed commitment to inter-agency cooperation in the interest of sustainable urban development and the delivery of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. ...