Lagos lands bureau turns to NBA for help on land administration bottlenecks

The Lagos State Lands Bureau has engaged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos branch, to address challenges in land administration and improve service delivery to residents, Peoples Gazette reported.

The meeting at the Bureau's conference room brought together members of the five divisions of the Lagos legal profession to discuss difficulties encountered in processing land-related transactions. The permanent secretary of the Lands Bureau, Kamar Olowoshago, said the state is introducing measures to improve operational efficiency, strengthen communication and resolve complaints from stakeholders.

Olowoshago announced plans to establish a monthly regulatory clinic and quarterly stakeholders' meetings to provide regular platforms for feedback on land administration. He also disclosed plans for a visual learning platform to help stakeholders understand the Bureau's procedures, with designated desk officers appointed to guide applicants and respond to enquiries.

Another initiative is a centralised land archive with access limited to authorised personnel. According to the permanent secretary, the archive is expected to strengthen document security, improve records management and prevent the unauthorised duplication or cloning of land files.

The executive secretary of the Land Use and Allocation Committee, Ololade Ajetunmobi, urged stakeholders to exercise patience as the Bureau improves its processes, saying the accuracy and integrity of information remained essential and that the goal was not simply to speed up transactions but to ensure land matters are properly processed. NBA members were also taken on a tour of the Bureau's facilities to familiarise them with its operations and technological upgrades. The Bureau said the engagement forms part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability and build a more efficient, customer-focused land administration system in the state.