Land reform key to attracting investment in FCT – Expert

A former President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Johnbull Amayaevbo, has called for a comprehensive overhaul of land governance in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, describing it as critical to boosting investor confidence, expanding internally generated revenue, and positioning the city as a globally competitive capital.

Amayaevbo argued that Abuja’s land administration system must evolve beyond a rigid, compliance-driven bureaucracy into a market-responsive framework that actively supports investment certainty and economic growth. He made the call while delivering a lecture titled: “From Compliance to Competitiveness: Positioning Abuja’s Land Governance Framework for Investment Confidence and Revenue Growth.”

Drawing lessons from global cities such as Riyadh, Singapore, Vancouver, Barcelona, Curitiba, and Kigali, Amayaevbo noted that modern land governance has emerged as a powerful economic tool – one capable of shaping investor perception, strengthening fiscal capacity, and enabling sustainable urban development.

“In contemporary urban economies, land governance has evolved far beyond its traditional administrative role,” he said. “The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe recognises that land governance is no longer limited to issuing titles or enforcing zoning regulations; it now functions as a strategic economic instrument that shapes investor confidence, revenue mobilisation, and city competitiveness.”

He added that a 2024 World Bank report underscored that globally competitive cities are increasingly defined not just by infrastructure or population size, but by how predictably, transparently, and efficiently land is governed.

According to Amayaevbo, Riyadh’s transformation under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 demonstrates how land governance can be repositioned as a strategic lever for economic diversification. Through large-scale master planning, state-led land assembly, integrated land-use regulation, and digitised administration, investor uncertainty has been reduced and project execution accelerated.

Similarly, he said Vancouver’s competitiveness is anchored in transparent, market-responsive land governance. “Clear zoning frameworks, density bonusing, and negotiated development agreements allow the city to capture land value for public amenities while sustaining private investment. Predictable approvals and strong property rights significantly enhance investor confidence,” he noted.

Amayaevbo described Singapore as a global benchmark in state-led land governance, where near-total public land ownership, long-term leasehold systems, and integrated spatial planning align land use directly with national economic strategy. This, he said, reduces investor risk while ensuring fiscal sustainability.

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