Nine out of every ten properties in Nigeria have no proper land title. That figure comes straight from the Finance Ministry, and it tells a story that millions of Nigerians know too well: you can build a home, pay for land, and still have nothing on paper that proves it is yours.
The ministry put it plainly. People are sitting on assets they cannot fully use. Without a recognized title, that land or property cannot easily secure a loan, attract investment, or be transferred cleanly to the next generation. The wealth is there in theory, locked away in practice.
For a country where real estate is one of the most trusted ways ordinary families build and hold wealth, this gap is not a small administrative issue. It shapes how much financial power people can actually access in their own lifetimes.
The question now is what changes, and how fast.
Originally published by Premium Times.