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Chairman of the
Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform, Akin Mabogunje,
yesterday attributed the scarcity of functional industries in the
country to the inability of local and foreign investors to have access
to land for industrialization.

Mr Mabogunje, who
disclosed this in Akure on Tuesday during a courtesy call on the Ondo
State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, by members of the committee, said the
lack of proper land survey and management had resulted in
under-utilization of vast hectares of land for economic development.

He pointed out that
more industries are not springing up in the country because many
investors fail to access lands, as land owners do not have certificates
of occupancy.

He advised that
land allocation, survey and regeneration be accorded more attention
with a view to guaranteeing the rights of land owners.

“Lack of proper
land survey and management had resulted in under-utilization of vast
large hectares of land for economic development. For Nigeria to attain
socioeconomic development, her land resources must be well managed and
put into full utilization,” he said.

Land for wealth

He said every
Nigerian must ensure that his or her landed property was judiciously
used for the purpose of wealth creation and empowerment, stressing that
his committee has been working to ensure safety of the property of
every Nigerian.

Mr Mabogunje said Ondo State was chosen by his committee for the pilot scheme of its land reform programme for the south-west.

Mr Mimiko commended
the team for its contributions to nation building, especially in the
area of effective utilization of land resources. The governor expressed
the readiness of his administration to collaborate with the committee
for the development of the state’s land resources.

“Our administration has already put in place a committee, which is
working on the state’s land digitalization for proper management,” he
said. “No doubt, we’re going to ensure that at least 50 per cent of
land owners in the state have titles for their land. This will enable
them to use the land to create wealth, as they will be able to use it
as collateral for loans.”