The Adamawa State Government is advancing plans to fully digitise its land administration system, marking a decisive shift away from manual processes long associated with delays, opacity, and inefficiencies.
The initiative by the state government, which underscores the growing momentum behind subnational digital reforms in Nigeria, driven by the administration of Govenor Ahmadu Fintiri, is gaining traction through a series of technical engagements aimed at preparing key stakeholders for the transition to an automated, end-to-end digital platform.
At the centre of the reform is a newly introduced Land Administration and Allocation System, unveiled during a technical training session led by Hammajam Adamu, Special Adviser on ICTs, E-Governance and Policy. The session brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Lands and the Office of the Surveyor General, including the Commissioner for Lands, the Surveyor General, the Permanent Secretary, and departmental heads, to drive a coordinated institutional push ahead of the system’s rollout.
The platform is structured around multiple functional modules covering core land administration processes, including new land applications, registration and verification, Certificate of Occupancy processing, conditional surrender, ground rent management, and search reporting. Collectively, these modules are expected to establish a unified digital workflow, replacing fragmented, paper-based operations that have historically constrained efficiency.
Adamawa: Digitisation of land administration carries significant economic implications
Providing a detailed walkthrough of the platform, Adamu demonstrates how the system is designed to digitise the entire land administration lifecycle, from application submission and verification to approval workflows and record management. According to him, the platform simplifies legacy processes, reduces manual bottlenecks, and significantly improves turnaround times for land-related services.
“This is a major step toward transforming land administration in Adamawa State. His Excellency’s vision is to ensure that services are delivered faster, more transparently, and in a way that builds public trust,” he says.
The platform is structured around multiple functional modules covering core land administration processes, including new land applications, registration and verification, Certificate of Occupancy processing, conditional surrender, ground rent management, and search reporting. Collectively, these modules are expected to establish a unified digital workflow, replacing fragmented, paper-based operations that have historically constrained efficiency.
The shift represents more than a technology upgrade, according to the state officials. By automating verification processes and enabling real-time tracking of applications, the system introduces stronger accountability mechanisms that could reduce discretionary practices and improve regulatory oversight.
Officials at the training session highlight the broader institutional implications of the reform. Joan Sahma describes the initiative as a strategic intervention that will modernise internal operations within the ministry while enhancing service delivery to citizens and businesses.
From a technical perspective, the integration of geospatial capabilities is already being positioned as a critical next phase. Simon A. Pwavidon underscores the importance of embedding spatial intelligence into the platform to improve data accuracy, land mapping precision, and evidence-based planning.
Institutional coordination is also emerging as a key pillar of the reform. Mohammed Dabo notes that the digital system is expected to strengthen collaboration across departments, reduce duplication of processes, and streamline workflows that traditionally slow down service delivery.
Beyond internal efficiencies, the state government is framing the initiative as a citizen-centric reform. By reducing the need for physical interactions and enabling faster processing timelines, the platform is expected to enhance user experience, improve accessibility, and increase public confidence in land administration processes.
Participants at the session engage directly with the system, testing its modules and providing feedback on usability and performance, in an approach that the government expects to shift from policy articulation to practical implementation. The hands-on engagement is expected to inform further refinements ahead of full deployment.
The reform comes amid a broader trend of digital transformation across Nigerian states, where governments are increasingly leveraging technology to improve governance outcomes, drive transparency, and stimulate economic activity.
In Adamawa’s case, the digitisation of land administration carries significant economic implications. Efficient land registration and documentation systems are widely regarded as critical enablers of investment, property rights protection, and ease of doing business. By modernising this critical sector, the state positions itself to unlock new opportunities in real estate development, infrastructure planning, and private sector investment.
As the rollout progresses, the success of the initiative will likely hinge on sustained stakeholder alignment, system reliability, and the ability to scale adoption across departments and user groups. If effectively implemented, Adamawa’s digital land administration model could serve as a reference point for other states seeking to modernise legacy systems and align with Nigeria’s broader digital economy agenda.
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