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Abstract
The Status of Land Record System and Its
Relevance to Infrastructural Development in
Nigeria
Surv. C. E. Oboli (fnis)
Director Cadastral
Surveys*
Surv. A. O. Akpoyoware (mnis)
Assistant Chief Surveyor*
*Federal Ministry of
Environment Housing and
Urban Development,
Mabushi, Abuja-Nigeria
Information is required for planning and operations in all sectors of the economy.
Vital knowledge on land in a country can be retrieved from the existing land records.
Spatial as well as attribute data facilitate the siting of infrastructure. The key requirements
are large scale maps but the level of cadastral mapping in Nigeria is very low
and mostly prepared in analogue format. In many cases, records and maps have been
lost through cumbersome storage methods and hence the focus now is tending towards
electronic/digital system.
This paper would review the status of land records and large scale maps in the country
from the colonial era to the present day. With regard to Nigeria’s new administration’s
7-point agenda, Land Reform which is critical to its realisation would ensure equitable
use of the nations land resources for socio-economic development. Infrastructural
development should be based on current land data. Procedures to improve the land
data-handling/ recording system are recommended. This would ultimately boost
production in various sectors and facilitate the distribution as well development of
infrastructure, improve wealth creation initiatives and good governance. The storage
and maintenance of land records in a unified database facilitates updating. The documentation
of land records and transactions with up to date Cadastral information has
a direct relevance on service delivery in various sectors such as health, education the
environment and other similar infrastructures etc.
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