Lagos GIS mapping, house numbering to boost PropTech adoption — Igbinoba

Lagos State’s ongoing GIS mapping and house numbering initiatives are expected to strengthen PropTech adoption as the real estate sector gradually shifts toward digital transformation, according to Roland Igbinoba.

Igbinoba, CEO of SEC-approved crowdfunding platform PropCrowdy Ltd., disclosed this during an exclusive chat with Nairametrics on the sidelines of the Africa Real Estate Entrepreneurship Bootcamp (AREEB) 2026 in Lagos, organised by the Tosin Olatujoye Foundation.

He said the reforms are part of broader efforts to improve access to reliable land and property data, which remains critical for digital innovation in the sector, noting that PropTech adoption in the state remains at an early stage.

What they are saying

Igbinoba said ongoing reforms such as GIS mapping, cadastral digitisation, and house numbering would significantly improve access to reliable land and property data, forming the backbone for future PropTech growth.

• “The good news is that Lagos State is actively working on improvements such as GIS mapping, cadastral digitization, and house numbering systems. These developments will support future PropTech adoption,” he said.
• He rated PropTech adoption in Lagos at just 2 to 3 on a scale of 10, despite growing interest in digital real estate platforms, adding that regulatory constraints and weak access to verified land data continue to slow innovation.
• According to him, the absence of digitised land records and real-time access to land registry data limits the development of advanced solutions such as blockchain-based property systems.

He added that startups such as Construct, Venco, and PropCrowdy are driving early innovation but remain constrained by infrastructure and policy gaps. However, he expressed optimism that improved integration between government systems could position Lagos as a leading PropTech hub within two to three years.

More insights

On financing, Igbinoba said access to affordable capital remains the biggest challenge for developers, noting that commercial bank loans of up to 35% interest are unsustainable for long-term projects.

• He stressed the growing role of capital market instruments and SEC-regulated models such as crowdfunding, tokenisation, and REITs in bridging the funding gap.
• He added that technology is already enabling broader participation in real estate investment, with entry points as low as N20,000 to N30,000.
• He warned that developers who fail to adopt tech-driven financing models risk being left behind as the sector shift’s toward investment-led ecosystems.

AREEB 2026 convener, Tosin Olatujoye, also called for stronger collaboration across Africa’s real estate sector, noting that knowledge sharing and partnerships are key to addressing the continent’s housing deficit and expanding investment opportunities.

What you should know

Lagos State in January launched a statewide initiative to identify, document, and formalise informal land assets estimated at about N3 trillion. The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to improve land governance and expand the formal property market.

• The exercise involves mapping, valuation, and integration of undocumented land parcels across the state.
• Informal land assets refer to properties without formal documentation such as Certificates of Occupancy or registered titles.
• The project is being implemented following approval from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with Octragon Multi Projects appointed as consultant.
• The scope has expanded from an initial 2,000 hectares to 3,744 hectares valued at about N3 trillion.

The initiative also aligns with Lagos’ broader digital land reform agenda aimed at improving transparency and unlocking economic value from previously undocumented assets.

Separately, the state has automated building approval processes through the Electronic Physical Planning Process System (EPPPS), shifting planning permit applications and construction approvals to a fully digital platform.

Any processing of permits outside the system has been declared illegal, reinforcing the government’s push toward end-to-end digitisation of physical planning services.