Lagos Launches e-GIS Platform

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has officially launched the electronic Geographic Information System (e-GIS) portal in Lagos State. This innovative platform aims to simplify, digitise, and streamline the acquisition, documentation, and verification of land titles in the Nigerian state. This development ushers in a new era of convenience and transparency in the land acquisition process as residents can now access, search, and apply for land titles online.

The initiative is a response to challenges in the Lagos State real estate sector where issues of land sales without proper government approval have been prevalent. The urgency became evident when the government intervened in a dispute between a real estate company and a buyer over the non-allocation of purchased land. Previously, applicants incurred costs associated with lawyers, surveyors, and registration agents. With the portal’s introduction, these intermediary services are no longer necessary, reducing both the time and financial burden on land title applicants.

Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasised the platform’s user-friendly nature, stating, “The e-GIS portal is a one-stop digital platform that sanitises and revolutionises the process of acquiring, documenting, and verifying land in Lagos.” He added, “With the portal now live, applications for land titles have transitioned from the centuries-old manual paperwork into digital form, eliminating the need for middlemen and the associated costs applicants previously faced.”

Residents can now verify, search, and apply for land titles, including the Governor’s consent at Lagos State Land Bureau all from the comfort of their homes. The platform now allows applicants to request a government survey on any state land and apply for a Certified True Copy (CTC) of their property.

This initiative builds on the foundation of the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) initiated by former Lagos Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now President of Nigeria. Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration has further enhanced this system, organising archived land records dating back to the 19th century. The e-GIS platform seamlessly merges historical transactional data with all land titles. e-GIS is expected to bring about greater accountability ensuring a more secure and transparent real estate landscape in Lagos.