Land Administration and Cadastral Modernisation in Anambra State: Challenges and GIS-Based Solutions

Land administration modernisation is a cornerstone of Nigeria's National Land Policy, yet implementation has proceeded unevenly across states, with Anambra facing specific challenges related to customary tenure complexity, incomplete colonial-era survey records, and rapid urban growth. This study examines challenges confronting cadastral modernisation in Anambra State and evaluates GIS-based solutions developed to address identified institutional and technical bottlenecks. Structured interviews with officials of the Anambra State Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Development, private surveyors, and property developers in Awka and Onitsha provide primary qualitative data. Secondary data from the state's land registry, including parcel registration backlogs, boundary dispute frequencies, and time-to-title processing statistics, are analysed. Key challenges identified include the coexistence of customary and statutory tenure systems, inconsistent boundary referencing between adjoining surveys, and the absence of a parcel-based GIS framework. The study evaluates a pilot GIS land information system prototype implemented in Awka South LGA, assessing its technical performance, user uptake, and impact on registration processing time. Results demonstrate a fifty-two percent reduction in average registration time and improved spatial coherence of adjacent parcel boundaries in the pilot area. Recommendations address institutional restructuring, technology procurement, and staff training requirements for state-wide rollout. Keywords: land administration, cadastral modernisation, GIS, Anambra State, land registration.