Groups flay ministry over UK’s land compensation deal

A coalition of land rights advocates and professionals has raised concerns about the government’s commitment to the development of indigenous expertise and the socio-economic well-being of its citizens.

The groups, comprising Coalition for Land Rights Advocacy (CLARA), Cromwell Centre for Housing and Urban Development (CCHUD), Body of Rural Valuers and Agro Services Practitioners and Coalition for Valuation Integrity in Nigeria have called on the Federal Government to reconsider its partnership with a UK-based body on the review of compensation rates for publicly acquired land in the country.

The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development recently sealed a partnership deal with the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) to harmonise land compensation rates and standards in line with global best practices.

According to the groups, the decision to outsource a critical aspect of land governance to foreign professionals is not only an insult to the professional competence and technical capabilities of Nigerian valuers but also a stark reminder of the government’s disregard for the hard work and qualifications of its people.

“The consequences of this policy will be felt across generations. By relegating Nigerian professionals to the sidelines, the government is actively stifling the growth of a critical sector, pushing talented individuals into unemployment, and eroding the nation’s ability to independently manage its resources.

“The long-term impact on the economy, especially in rural and agricultural sectors, will be devastating, as local expertise is crucial for creating policies that reflect Nigeria’s unique socio-economic realities.

“It is preposterous that the ministry has chosen to engage foreign experts for what is a rather mundane task, well within the technical grasp of Nigeria’s highly trained valuation professionals.

“Nigerian valuers, who have been trained to international standards and have decades of experience in agricultural and rural valuation, are being sidelined in favour of foreign professionals, who have little understanding of the complexities and nuances of Nigeria’s land issues.

“This partnership, if allowed to proceed, will not only render valuers unemployed but also subject the entire valuation profession in Nigeria to global ridicule. This move mirrors the same misguided policy implemented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State, where he introduced the now infamous Land Use Charge.

“This property taxation system, which collapsed the property rating functions of local governments into a state-wide revenue stream, has been nothing short of a disaster. Fraught with illegality, constitutional breaches, and operational failures, the Land Use Charge has failed to achieve its intended purpose, leaving property owners frustrated and local councils stripped of their constitutional responsibilities. It remains one of the world’s worst examples of property taxation.”

The statement signed by the groups’ spokesman, Mr Sola Enitan, said the Federal Government’s current endeavour, much like the Land Use Charge, is an ill-conceived policy that lacks foresight and an understanding of the broader socio-economic impacts it will have on Nigeria.

“By steering hard-earned foreign exchange into the hands of British agricultural valuers, the government is draining the nation’s resources and deepening already prevalent poverty and unemployment in the professional sector.

“Nigerian valuers are not only capable but uniquely positioned to handle the task of compensation valuation, and sidelining them in favour of foreign expertise is a direct attack on the development of local capacity,” they said.

They stated that land administration and compensation fall under the concurrent list in the Nigerian Constitution, meaning that each state has the authority to manage these matters independently. “The Federal Government’s attempt to centralise this function, and impose foreign valuation standards, risks creating friction between the federal and state governments, potentially triggering legal battles and policy inconsistencies across the country.”

The groups urged the government to empower Nigerian valuers and professionals who are fully capable of developing a robust, transparent, and globally competitive framework for compensation that reflects Nigeria’s socio-economic interests.