Nasarawa to introduce land reforms to remove bottlenecks in ease of doing business

Nasarawa State government said it’s strategizing towards introducing key reforms in land administration, in a bid to remove bottlenecks in the ease of doing business in the state.

This was made known when the state governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule met with stakeholders in land administration from the side of government, as well as members of the Nasarawa State Investment and Economic Advisory Council, at the Government House, on Monday.

Engineer Sule pointed out that his administration recognises land as a major requirement when it comes to access for development, stressing that efforts are geared towards address most of the challenges encountered when it comes to land issues.

The governor cited duplication of duties, inefficiency in land administration, property registration and land titling, among others, as some of the challenges that needed to be tackled, even as he acknowledged that the World Bank expressed concern over land administration in the state.

To this end, the governor has successfully completed enabling laws required to make efficient land administration system in the state.

Engineer Sule expressed hope that with the state geographic information services in place, laws establishing the state urban development board, the mortgage foreclosure authority, as well as the establishment of the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), Nasarawa State will soon take its proper position in the ease of doing business in the country, in line with the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS).

The governor used the opportunity to thank the chairman and members of the state investment and economic advisory council, for providing unsolicited funds for the take off of the NASIDA.

Participating virtually in the meeting, Chairman of the state Advisory Council, Professor Konyi Ajayi, expressed satisfaction that with the laws recently passed in the state, Nasarawa State will be among the most progressive states in terms of ease of doing business.

“Mortgage foreclosure has been a big problem across the country. Many banks are unable to give mortgages because of the mortgage law. Where banks give mortgages, people are unable to use their land as much as they would like to,” he said.

Prof. Ajayi expressed satisfaction that with the one-stop agency law that has been passed, as well as other laws also passed, adding that he is convinced that the World Bank, in its next report, will show that Nasarawa State is among the most progressive states in terms of ease of doing business in the country.

While noting that the country is going through difficult times occasioned by the forces of inflation, devaluation and economic challenges posed by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the Advisory Council Chairman, pointed out that these challenges present opportunities.

He expressed hope that the council will be able to assist the Engineer Sule administration, by preparing the state for the opportunities that are emerging.

Earlier, MD/CEO of NASIDA, Barrister Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the meeting, which was at the instance of the governor, aimed at seeking avenues for addressing bogus land administration procedure that is constituting a bottleneck to the ease of doing business in the state.

The NASIDA MD said stakeholders, development partners, especially the World Bank and other investors, have expressed concern over the bogus land administration procedure currently operating in the state, hence the need to device means of addressing the issue.