The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, has accused the Lagos State Lands Registry of crippling inefficiency, corruption, and sabotage, warning of protests if the government fails to act swiftly
NBA Ikeja Condemns Corruption, Frustration at Lagos Lands Registry, Alausa
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, has raised a red flag over what it described as crippling delays, entrenched corruption, and systemic sabotage at the Lagos State Lands Registry, Alausa.
According to a strongly worded protest letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Lands, the association lamented that lawyers and property stakeholders are being subjected to unbearable hardship caused by the inefficiency of the registry.
The letter, jointly signed by Branch Chairman, Adeniyi Quadri, and Secretary, Ayodeji O. Olabiwonnu, traced the worsening situation to the migration of the Lands Bureau to the Aumentum Platform—a digital system intended to simplify land transactions but which, according to the NBA, has instead complicated the process.
“Routine transactions such as filing documents, obtaining charting assessments, or securing enforcement approvals now drag on endlessly,” the association said.
The NBA Ikeja alleged that some officials have turned the inefficiency into an extortion scheme, exploiting desperate applicants, particularly at the Ministry’s MTN Building, by offering to fast-track file processing for bribes.
The lawyers further condemned what they termed “artificial hurdles” deliberately created to frustrate access, noting that the Lands Registry currently opens to the public only three days a week—Tuesdays to Thursdays, between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.—while operating a restrictive “tag system.”
“The present situation is an affront to the principles of transparency and professionalism,” the NBA stated.
“The inefficiency has reached a ridiculous level that can no longer be excused or justified.”
The association emphasized that its protest aligns with its “3Cs” engagement strategy — Communication, Consolidation before Confrontation — and demanded a comprehensive roadmap within seven working days outlining concrete steps to resolve the crisis.
While expressing willingness to collaborate with the government to restore sanity to the Bureau, the Branch warned that failure to act promptly would compel it to launch a systematic advocacy and peaceful protest, including picketing the Lands Bureau.
Copies of the letter were also dispatched to the media and civil society organizations to draw broader attention to the issue.
In a swift response dated October 2, 2025, the Lands Bureau acknowledged receipt of the protest letter (dated September 30, 2025) and invited the NBA Ikeja Branch to a meeting to deliberate on the issues raised and to explore “ways by which they may be effectively resolved.”
Newsheadline247 reports that Professionals in Lagos State’s legal and real estate sectors are raising the alarm over what they describe as crippling inefficiencies at the Lagos State Bureau of Lands, with frustration mounting to the point where protests are being openly discussed.
Lawyers and estate surveyors — key players in title perfection and property documentation — say the Bureau’s current operational system has “reduced them to nothing,” creating a bottleneck that now threatens Lagos’ vibrant property market.
The crisis, stakeholders explain, began with the migration to Aumentum, an automated platform designed to handle land applications online. In theory, the system was meant to make transactions seamless. In practice, however, poor connectivity and alleged internal sabotage have paralysed operations. Read More
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