Former NBA president Olisa Agbakoba has urged the federal government to prioritize comprehensive land titling reform, describing it as key to unlocking Nigeria’s dormant wealth.
According to a report from NAIRAMETRICS, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, has called for an urgent and comprehensive land titling reform, describing it as “the single most transformative economic policy” capable of unlocking over N1.5 quadrillion in dormant capital and driving sustainable national prosperity.
In a policy paper titled “Devolution is the Solution: Foundational Reform Agenda for Nigeria’s Transformation,” Agbakoba stated that over 90 per cent of Nigerian land and real estate remain undocumented or improperly titled, creating what he termed “dead capital.” He cited studies by the World Bank, PwC, and his firm, Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL), to support the claim.
He commended the Federal Government’s ongoing National Land Registration, Documentation and Titling Programme but urged the Tinubu administration to “accelerate and scale” the initiative for broader economic impact.
Agbakoba also called for a transition to a credit-based economy, arguing that access to formal property titles would enable citizens to use land as collateral. “When citizens can access credit in naira to own homes, start businesses, and build wealth, the currency gains intrinsic value and stability,” he said.