Introduction: The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Lands, has embarked on an ambitious project to modernise its land administration system, known as the Aumentum Land Administration Solutions (ALAS). This initiative aims to address the challenges associated with land ownership, management, and transactions in Lagos State, Nigeria. The ALAS project seeks to leverage technology and innovative solutions to improve the efficiency, transparency, and security of land administration, thereby promoting economic growth, social stability, and sustainable development.
Lagos State, with a population of over 21 million people, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. The state’s rapid urbanisation has put immense pressure on its land resources, leading to issues such as land grabbing, disputes, and insecurity. The existing land administration system is plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and a lack of transparency, making it difficult for citizens to access land and property services.
The Aumentum Land Administration Solutions (ALAS). The project is designed to address these challenges by introducing a modern, integrated, and automated land administration system. The system will enable the government to efficiently manage land records, process transactions, and provide secure and reliable land titles. The project also aims to enhance the overall governance and regulatory framework, promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement.
This evaluation seeks to assess the implementation of the ALAS project, identifying successes, challenges, and areas for improvement. The evaluation will examine the project’s impact on land administration, governance, and the overall socio-economic development of Lagos State. The findings of this evaluation will inform stakeholders, policymakers, and the public on the progress of the project and provide recommendations for future improvements
The Lagos State Government launched Aumentum Solution in 2019, revolutionising land record management and property transactions through automation. Aumentum is a powerful solution that can be easily customised for any land-related business process.
Aumentum Land Administration solutions allow governments to:
Automate land records management and facilitate the registration of property transactions in a more controlled and transparent environment.
Transform a manual and paper-based method into a digital process while securing the distribution of data and enhancing customer service.
Provide title registration for public and private land, strata, movable, and immovable properties with a point-of-sale application and maintenance of an automated fee schedule, chart of accounts, and financial reporting.
Aumentum Land Administration includes:
Aumentum Cadastre, that is, integrates a suite of survey and cadastral management tools that enable you to collect and manage property data and make that data accessible to the public.
Aumentum Registry provides the flexibility needed to automate land records management and facilitate the registration of real estate and property-based transactions.
Aumentum Land Administration Solutions has transformed land title processing in Lagos State, ensuring legitimacy and compliance with state regulations. The previous manual process was prone to errors, missing files, and fraud. The new digital system simplifies land information management and property tax revenue collection. Lagos State has joined the global forefront of technology-driven land administration, guaranteeing efficiency, transparency, and accuracy. Aumentum offers a solution-based data management system, streamlining business workflow processes, and enhancing productivity, revenue generation, document security, and customer service. This system addresses urban development and geographic information services challenges, aligning with global standards. The previous open filing system was cumbersome, time-consuming, and vulnerable to insecurity and mismanagement. Aumentum’s digitised platform automates land record management and property transactions, ensuring a more organised, controlled, and transparent process.
CHALLENGES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LAGOS STATE AUMENTUM LAND ADMINISTRATION SOLUTIONS
The implementation of the Aumentum Land Administration Solutions (ALAS) in Lagos State, Nigeria, has faced several challenges, which have impacted the effectiveness of the system. Some of the challenges include:
1. Limited Awareness and Understanding: Many stakeholders, including citizens, are not fully aware of the ALAS system, its benefits, and how it works. This limited awareness has led to resistance to change and slow adoption rates.
2. Inadequate Infrastructure: The existing infrastructure in Lagos State, including power supply, internet connectivity, and hardware, is inadequate to support the ALAS system. This has led to system downtime, slow processing speeds, and frustration among users.
3. Data Quality Issues: The data used to populate the ALAS system is often incomplete, inaccurate, and inconsistent. This has led to errors, delays, and disputes in land transactions.
4. Resistance to Change: The introduction of ALAS has disrupted traditional ways of doing things, leading to resistance from some stakeholders, including government officials and land professionals.
5. Security Concerns: The ALAS system is vulnerable to cyber threats, data breaches, and unauthorised access. This has raised concerns about the security of land records and transactions.
6. Limited Capacity: The capacity of government officials and stakeholders to effectively use and manage the ALAS system is limited. This has led to errors, inefficiencies, and slow processing times.
7. Funding Constraints: The implementation and maintenance of ALAS require significant funding, which has been a challenge. This has impacted the system’s scalability and sustainability.
8. Regulatory Framework: The regulatory framework governing land administration in Lagos State is complex and often conflicting. This has created challenges in implementing ALAS and ensuring compliance with existing laws and regulations.
9. Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging with stakeholders, including citizens, land professionals, and government officials, has been a challenge. This has impacted the system’s adoption and effectiveness.
10. Technical Issues: The ALAS system has experienced technical issues, including bugs, errors, and system crashes. This has impacted the system’s performance and user experience.
Addressing these challenges is crucial to ensuring the effective implementation of ALAS and achieving its intended goals of improving land administration, transparency, and security in Lagos State
SOLUTIONS
As part of the strategy to enhance seamless and integrated land administration processes in the State, the Lagos State Government has introduced the ‘Aumentum’ Land Administration – Automation process. Lagos State’s digital transformation in land administration has been a gradual process, commencing with the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) in 2013 and electronic Certificates of Occupancy in 2014. The Aumentum Solution, launched in 2019, revolutionised land record management and property transactions through automation. This digitised platform ensures a more efficient, transparent, and organised process for both the government and citizens. Digitalisation in land administration is crucial due to shifting societal priorities, globalisation, and the information technology revolution. Key reasons for digitalisation include:
– Rising demand for land documentation
– Access to cutting-edge land administration technology
– Adherence to global best practices
– Support for ongoing micro-economic reforms
– E-government initiatives
– Addressing capacity-building challenges
– Enhancing the ease of doing business
Aumentum Solution transformation aims to create a more streamlined, secure, and customer-centric land administration system, aligning with global standards and priorities. As Lagos State continues its journey towards becoming a 21st-century economy, the adoption of the Aumentum Solution represents a pivotal step forward in realising this vision. With its promise of increased efficiency, transparency, and productivity, the new system is poised to revolutionise land administration practices and set new benchmarks for governance excellence.
The introduction of the digital automated process has encouraged collaboration and content-sharing within Government Agencies with the creation of a One-Stop-Shop inquiry to facilitate unhindered access and an end-to-end Land Administration platform that is sustainable and productive thereby reducing the silos of information existing across Ministries, Departments and Agencies the technological leap complies with the Government’s Agenda of “Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, the new system supports the compartmentalization of the Lagos State Land Bureau’s business processes and reduce human interface.
The following were identified as the overall goals of digitalisation of the land administration system to be able to design a geo information system which will facilitate the land administration process such as:
Land Valuation
– Determining values, objectives and the legal framework in relation to
management of land as a legal, economic, and physical object.
– Basis for building sound land administration infrastructures.
Cadastral Systems
– Identification of land parcels and securing land rights
– Facilitate land registration, land valuation, and land-use control
– Underpin Sound Land Administration.
Land Administration Systems
– Administration of land tenure, land value, land-use, and land development – Facilitate efficient land markets and effective land-use management
Land Management
– Management of processes by which land resources are put into the highest and best use.
– Facilitates economic, social, and environmental sustainability
– Underpins and implements sound land policies
Some of the benefits that can be derived from the digitalisation of land
The administration system includes Improvement in land title security, reduction in falsification of land documents, physical re-organisation/ re-certification of land documents, secured land registration, improvement in infrastructural facilities deployment and enhanced capacity for increased revenue mobilisation
Recommendations:
The academia and practitioners should pay more attention to the education and training of personnel in the use of the tools and processes involved in the digitalisation of the land administration system.
The government should promote the utilisation of Geo-Information technologies to support informed decision-making strategies, which will enhance the effectiveness of Aumentum Land Administration solutions as Decision Support Systems.
The State Government should help standardise the digitalisation programme by setting common standards for the respective agencies, such as would enable a syncing of databases. If achieved, this will fast-track the openness of the real estate property market.
The government should guide the development of policies and standards by ensuring seamless access to geo-information through Aumentum Land Administration solutions.
The state governments should commit funds to fast-track and digitalise the land administration system.
The government should prioritise investing in the development of essential skills required to effectively manage, use, and implement Aumentum Land Administration solutions.
Lastly, the Lagos State government and other stakeholders should be proactive and committed to the digitalisation of the land administration system as a lot of benefits can be derived from its effective operation.
Conclusion. Lagos State has become a model for transformation in Nigeria, earning recognition locally and internationally. To maintain its excellence, it’s crucial to sustain the momentum of land administration reforms. The state’s progress, from introducing the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) in 2013 to the integrated Land Administration Automation process in 2019, has set a high standard for land management. The Aumentum Land Administration Solutions has driven significant improvements, and continued investment in these technologies is essential to maintain Lagos’ pioneering status and ensure it remains a Centre of Excellence for generations to come. The implementation of Aumentum Land Administration Solutions has driven significant advancements in Lagos’ land administration and management. Continued investment in these technologies will be essential for maintaining the state’s pioneering status.
ESV Gbadebo Olayinka Bukola Mnivs. Rsv. is an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) and Chief Land Officer at the Lands Bureau, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State.
Phone Number: 08023232171. E-mail: mummyf3@yahoo.com
Office Address: Block 13/14, Lands Bureau, Governor’s Office, the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State.
