DIGITISATION OF LAND REGISTRIES IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA: ASSESSING INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY

The digitization of land administration systems (LAS) has been promoted as a means of enhancing transparency,tenure security, and efficiency in Nigeria. Yet, in the South-South region, land registries continue to exhibit institutional fragilities that threaten digital transformation. This study assesses the institutional capacity of land registries in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers States, focusing on the internal strengths and weaknesses of institutional organisations and standardized processes. A mixed methods design was adopted, combining structured surveys of registry staff (n = 384), key informant interviews, and secondary data.