Minna: The Federal and Niger State governments have partnered to improve land registration and title processing in Niger State. Dr Abdul Husseini, Permanent Secretary of the Niger Ministry for Lands and Survey, announced this collaboration during a meeting with a Federal Government delegation led by Mr. Collins Alabi, Director of Lands at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, in Minna.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, the delegation’s visit also included an inspection of the ongoing upgrade of equipment at the Niger State Geographic Information System (NGISS) agency in Minna. This upgrade was recently commissioned by Governor Umaru Bago. Husseini emphasized that the visit aimed to discuss strategies to enhance the state’s land titling process, stating that the Federal Government’s support would enable the state to adopt global best practices in land registration and titling.

He also noted that the visit served to assess the state’s progress in implementing the program following the minister’s visit to Governor Bago. Husseini expressed satisfaction with the state’s proactive engagement in the project, predicting that Niger would be among the leading states when progress reports are submitted to the minister. He highlighted challenges such as land ownership disputes and the necessity for personnel training in new technologies, especially as the state transitions into a digital era.

In his remarks, Mr. Collins Alabi stated that the land registration and documentation program had been ongoing for some time and that the ministry was committed to advancing it to meet global standards. Alabi mentioned that the purpose of the visit was to raise awareness among the state government about the project and explore collaborative opportunities. He noted that while some states aspire to reach Niger’s current level of progress, Governor Bago would be invited to a forum to discuss the project’s advancements and future directions.