Kingsley U N Chikwendu —
Last week, the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Abuja Chapter held a seminar tagged ‘Effective Land Administration: A Catalyst For Sustainable Economic Development’. It was a platform where stakeholders and experts in the built industry made varying but, similar views concerning the Land Use Act, which many believe has made some politicians act in tyrannical ways.
The opinions held by majority of the speakers revealed that the 1976 Act needs reformation, as it is becoming detrimental to the built industry and the Nigerian economy as a whole.
Chairman of NIESV, Abuja Branch, ESV Adebanjo Adeleke said that since what guides the operations of land administration in the country, the Land Use Act needs to be reviewed, faulting the Act as a major challenge facing land administration in the country.
“We have a very good land administration, it guarantees ownership and security of tenure, he said.
“It reduces disputes and enhances value of lands. It helps the government in determining taxation. So, we have lots of benefits when we have a very good land administration system.
“A major problem we have in land administration is the Land Use Act, there is need for major stakeholders to review this Land Use Act because that is only the rule guiding us. Land is in the power of a Governor of a state. Even if the federal government needs a land, it must consult the Governor of the state first.
“We have to review the Land Use Act, that is the major issue, Adeleke concluded.
He earlier said that a good land administration system will not only guarantee ownership and security of tenure, it supports land and property taxation, provides security for cedit, develop and monitor land markets. “It also reduces land disputes, facilitates land reforms ad improves urban planning and structure”, the Adeleke stated.
According to the Chairman MCPD Committee, NIESV, Abuja Chapter, Okey Madubuko, he said “to accelerate development, they gave people mass land to go and develop. Now, people go in there to develop and at the end of the day, they get stuck somewhere. You learn from the process of getting it right.
“So, by the time you bridge that gap, people buy land and at that moment, you obtain your papers. As long as you have that paper, you can do anything with that particular paper”.
The Lead Speaker at the seminar, Ayodele Oniemola said there is need to repeal the Land Use Act which needs to be done from the constitution and difficult to amend. “This law was made 44 years ago and there has been no single amendment”, he stated.
ESV. Umar Sayyadi called for an improved synergy among the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors (NIESV), Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON) and Estate Surveyors (ESVs) in the public sector for proper placement of the profession in the committee of other professional bodies.
Sayyadi said, challenging the threats of quacks and quackeries, legal framework, non compliance with the provisions of relevant law, non enforcement of relevant provisions, there should be the need to fight for Deed Registry as a main professional cadre for ESVs in public sector.
“There should be constant and continuous sensitization of the public and government, especially to know the services that ESVs can render to safeguard their investment in real estate, he advised.
“Members should avail themselves the opportunity of representing their clients in land transaction services and professionalize all land transaction services in the economy, he added.
He further called for the creation of good working relationship with land administration and improved sensitization of the general public on the importance of registration.
The Chairman of the National CPD of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), ESV Dr. Mark Emmanuel Thursday said Land Administration Systems (LAS) are an important infrastructure that facilitates the implementation of land policies globally.
He stated that LAS is concerned with the legal and economic framework that guides the operations of land managers and operators.
“Land Administration Systems are important infrastructure that facilitates the implementation of land policies in both developed and developing countries, he said.
“It is concerned with the social, legal, economic and technical framework within which land managers and administrators must operate”.
Emmanuel also stated that the present age is one when science has become the provider of growth and abundance, used to correct anomalies.
“It is true that the older generation had greater respect for land and science but, we live in an age when science, more than land, has become the provider of growth and abundance.
“And for us to correct these anomalies, land must be at the front burner of our discussions as Estate Surveyors and Valuers, he stated.
He continued by adding that new solutions in land administration are required to deliver security of tenure for all and can be quickly developed and incrementally improved overtime.
Adamu Kasimu, a fellow of the institution, said the basic challenge faced in land administration in the country lies in implementation of the Land Use Act which he said has not been fully implemented. He added that one cannot say if the law is good or bad, until it is implemented.
“The basic challenge is in the implementation of the land use act, Kasimu said.
“The act itself has not been fully implemented, that’s the challenge. Until we implement the law as it is, we cannot say the law is bad but, the problem is in the implementation of the law.
“The land use act empowers the Governor of a state to fix rent called ‘ground rent’, he can fix anything. The law does not say this is what he can fix or how he can fix it. So, if you have a Governor as your enemy, he can fix anything that you can’t pay and he use that as a basis to deal with you.
“There is actually the need for a complete reform of land administration in Nigeria so that right from the ownership, acquisition, all the sectors for reform, he concluded.
