By Kingsley Adegboye

The Organising Committee of the 20th Africa International Housing Show (AIHS @20 – Legacy Edition), has extended invitations to State Commissioners for Lands, Directors of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Surveyors-General, Directors of Lands, and other senior land administration officials across Nigeria to participate in the Land Administration Session to be hosted by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development during AIHS 2026.

The high-level session, scheduled to hold during the Africa International Housing Show from July 13th to 18th, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, will bring together policymakers, land administrators, regulators, development partners, investors, and housing professionals to examine practical reforms aimed at improving land governance and accelerating housing delivery across Nigeria and Africa.

The theme of AIHS @20 is “Housing Solutions for Low Income and Informal Workers in Africa” and will feature strategic dialogues, exhibitions, investment forums, innovation showcases, ministerial sessions, CEOs’ forums, and technical sessions designed to shape the future of housing across the continent.

Speaking on the importance of the session, the Chief Executive Officer of AIHS, Festus Adebayo, noted that access to land remains one of the greatest barriers to affordable housing development on the continent.

According to him, effective land administration, transparent land governance, secure land tenure, and the deployment of modern Geographic Information Systems are critical to unlocking investment, reducing transaction costs, improving planning, and accelerating housing delivery, particularly for low-income and informal workers.

He stated that the participation of Commissioners for Lands, Directors of Geographic Information Systems, and other land administrators would provide a unique opportunity for states to showcase ongoing reforms, share best practices, exchange experiences, and identify innovative solutions capable of strengthening land administration systems nationwide.

The Land Administration Session is expected to provide State Governments with practical insights into improving access to land for affordable and low-cost housing development through effective land administration reforms, transparent land governance, streamlined land administration processes, and the deployment of modern Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

The session will also serve as a strategic platform for State Commissioners for Lands and other senior land administrators to engage directly with Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), international development partners, housing finance institutions, and private investors. These interactions will expose participating states to available financing windows, technical support, and investment opportunities while enhancing their capacity to develop bankable housing projects capable of attracting both domestic and foreign investment.

Furthermore, the session is expected to strengthen collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, state governments, the private sector, and development partners in advancing land reforms, improving ease of access to land for affordable housing, and positioning states as attractive destinations for housing and urban infrastructure investments.

The session will focus on key issues including land digitisation, automation of land administration processes, land registration reforms, property titling, Geographic Information Systems, geospatial technologies, cadastral management, investment-friendly land administration, and strategies for improving access to land for affordable housing development.

The Africa International Housing Show, now in its 20th edition, remains Africa’s largest housing and construction event, bringing together over 20,000 participants from more than 25 countries, including Ministers, Governors, Commissioners, Chief Executive Officers, investors, development finance institutions, housing finance institutions, researchers, manufacturers, and international development partners.