NGO Wants Disparities in Land Ownership in Nigeria Addressed

Laleye Dipo in Minna

A non-governmental organisation (NGO) with headquarters in Abuja, #GreenMe Ireti, has said there is a serious disparity in the ownership of land in Nigeria with the gap being in favour of men.

The Coordinator of the group and the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mrs. Ireti Kingibe, made the observation in a statement made available to journalist in Minna, The statement, which was released as part of activities by the organisation to mark the World Day to Combat Desertification and Draught, said it was time that Nigeria addressed the disparity, especially when more women are engaged in the land for farming.

 She said: “Land rights constitute the basis for access to food, housing and development, and without access to land many people find themselves in a situation of great economic insecurity.

“Land ownership provides individuals with legal recognition and security over their land. It allows people to exercise control, make long-term investments, and access financial services.”

The senator decried the “unequal access, ownership, and control of land between men and women,” describing it as “a systemic issue rooted in social norms, discriminatory laws, and cultural practices that limit women’s rights to own, inherit, or use land,” thereby  perpetuating gender inequalities and hindering women’s economic empowerment.

    According to her, “If the disparity is addressed, it will assist to reduce the devastating effects of land-related environmental crisis such as desertification and drought,” adding that: “Desertification and drought have devastating impacts, leading to the loss of fertile land, water scarcity, and food insecurity.”

  She submitted that this year, the organisation in an effort to combat desertification and drought had set up ‘an ambitious women rights agenda’ that will lead to the achievement of the global goals of gender equality and land degradation neutrality by 2030.

 As a result, Kingibe disclosed that under the NGOs impact activation plan which entails engagement, education and empowerment, its Hope2Green project would employ 62,000 as Eco-Marshals in Abuja and also incentivise not less than 620,000 eco- volunteers.

  She also disclosed that the organisation would give 6,000 green innovation start-up grants to beneficiaries apart from fostering of eco-tourism development across all six LGAs in the FCT.