How digital land information management system is increasing revenue

everal software have been developed for different state governments to enable them manage their land resources and reduce wastage. With the invention of automated land information management system, progressive governments have been able to increase their revenue and also recover some funds.

In Nigeria, the first attempt by the federal government on land administration reform was the initiation of the federal land information project(FLIP). The project was carried out in Federal ministry of lands, Housing and Urban development. It is a computerized land information management system with a central database for the administration of federal government lands. The implementation of the project across the state of the federation took a gradual course due to insufficient fund on the part of the government. The result of the research carried out by International food policy research on Land administration in some states in Nigeria showed that before now; land registration takes a very long time.

Almost 80 percent of beneficiaries and over 40 percent of professionals interviewed reported that it took more than two years to process land application and the major means of obtaining land information was direct contact with land administration institutions with limited means of online communication.

However, with the development of web-based land information management system, land administration has become a lot better and easier. Land information management system been successfully implemented in some states like Enugu, Anambra, Portharcot, Rivers etc.

In Enugu and Anambra state, Digital dreams developed the Land information management solution (LIMS) through which land registration information can easily be accessed. It provides for digitization of survey plan and document management and allocation of land to the public.

Through LIMS all payable fees by property owners in Anambra and Enugu could be tracked and recovered or retrieved. With the LIMS map, email and SMS reminders are

sent to property owners. More so, properties of the property owners who have failed in the fulfillment of their property obligation could be tracked and located.

Another country that has benefited from this innovation is Namibia. In Namibia, the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development (MRLGHRD) battled with inefficiency and ineffectiveness in land administration and provision of services to properties. This led to the development of Urban land information management system (ULIMS) by Techno Brain to solve the problem in the country.

  The Urban land information management system (ULIMS) provides a land information management platform through which reliable and accurate land records and land information can be easily accessed and quick payments made for property and property services rendered by the local authorities. With the centralized land management system that holds a central and single repository of all land and land related information which also has the capacity to integrate other system containing or utilizing land information in Namibia, revenue collection was increased in the country through the automated billing system of the software.

  Also,in Uganda, The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MLHUD), commenced the implementation of the second face of their National Land Information System called Design, Supply, Installation and Implementation of National Land Information System Infrastructure (DeSINLISI). The ministry engaged a consortium led by Institute Geographic National France International (IGN FI) to implement the second phase of this project which was initiated in 2013. The NLIS transformed land information management system in Uganda from analogue   systems into digital format .The system incorporates the registration, administration, surveying ,mapping, physical planning, valuation and records of lands. A measure of success has been recorded in land information management of Uganda since its implementation. The NLIS has so far improved service delivery, accountability, security and cost effectiveness.

It was also recorded that about US$114 million revenue has been generated. The NLIS has further resulted in a significant reduction in, backdoor transactions, forgeries and graft, challenges associated with missing land records and demonstrated a solid contribution to the development of Uganda (Oput, Milledrogues,and Burke 2018).

The benefit of computerizing the system of managing land information cannot be over emphasized.

It provides up-to-date, reliable and accessible land information used in revenue generation, town planning, land maintenance, infrastructural development, environmental protection, environmental hazard management and other social programs.

It provides information that helps in the development of markets and other economic activities.

It helps in updating geographical maps.

It serves as a vital resource for land and property investment and management decisions.

It eases the exchange of information and communication through the repository.

The electronic audit tracking which automated information management system provides promote economic and social development by helping in generating more revenue.

Easy access to market information which increased confidence in land buyers as well as   stimulated the economy by making land information available to the public as at when due.

It aideS accessible, accountable, efficient, transparent land administration services delivery and reduced the time and cost of transferring property rights and processing documents.

It provides a centralized data storage which removes any cases of data duplicity.

It is cost effective as land information could easily be accessed through the internet and at the comfort of oneâ?`s room.

It reduced land related disputes with its system of better delineation of boundary and accurate calculations.

In fact, land information management system is important for the socio-economic development of central and state governments. Every governments should therefore strive to develop all the requisite infrastructures necessary for the implementation of digital land information management system.