The World Bank has promised $2 million grant to the 36 State governments if they were able to achieve 50 per cent and above update of its property record before June 30 next year.
This include accurate information on the name of the owner/occupier of property, size of the land parcel, size of the building, use of the land/property, amongst others.
Senior Program Manager of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Olanrewaju Ajogbasile, who disclosed this, said the NGF secretariat, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, will hold virtual peer learning events (PLEs) for State governments on the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to strengthen land administration and property taxation in their respective States.
Ajogbasile stated that the learning events which hold on November 5 and 16 respectively.
He added that states would be provided with GIS data, orthophotos of property mapping and software to support enumeration, during the PLEs.
He disclosed that some States like Kaduna, Kogi, Lagos, Oyo, Nasarawa and Gombe have attained varying stages of GIS deployment, adding that the peer learning events will enable these states share their experiences with their counterparts.
Olanrewaju expressed the hope that GIS deployment and the consequential benefit of holding accurate land and property records will bring sanity to land administration in the country, and at the same time, ensure that fair and right taxes, fees or levies were charged.
According to him, about 160 persons will attend the peer learning events including state actors, partners and implementing agencies on the World Bank funded States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Program for Results, provide.
Amongst the State officials expected at the event are Project Managers for deployment of GIS, Directors of Lands; Directors, Property Tax and state SFTAS focal persons.
Expectations are also that each State will as part of the efforts to strengthen the land administration system, engage relevant civil societies and associations including the citizenry to ensure smooth implementation of critical reforms that may follow.