A coalition of scholars, policymakers, and industry experts has renewed calls for sweeping reforms in land governance, infrastructure financing, and urban planning as Africa braces for one of the fastest urban growth rates in the world.

The demand came at the third International Conference and Fair on Land and Development and the seventh Lateef Jakande Lecture held at the University of Lagos, where participants urged governments to confront mounting challenges in land management and urban infrastructure.

Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), the association’s 2nd Deputy President, Toyin Ayinde, stressed that sustainable land development cannot be achieved without corresponding investments in infrastructure. He commended the UNILAG Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development and its director, Prof. Gbenga Nubi, for their leadership in housing sector reforms.

Ayinde noted that the conference theme reflects a fundamental truth: “We can’t talk about sustainable land development without discussing urban infrastructure. What is a human settlement without the infrastructure that sustains it?” He said progress in African cities requires deliberate investment in essential facilities, describing the event as vital to achieving SDG Goal 11, focused on building sustainable and resilient cities.

He expressed optimism that recommendations from the gathering would shape policy reforms in Nigeria and across the continent.

UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade T. Ogunsola, also emphasised the urgency of coordinated, research-driven action as Africa prepares for an estimated 950 million new urban residents by 2050. She warned that the continent faces a pivotal moment, with vast opportunities but also rising threats such as infrastructure deficits, weak land governance, climate risks, and strained public systems.

Ogunsola highlighted the dual significance of the event—honouring the legacy of Lateef Jakande while serving as a platform for cutting-edge research on sustainable land management. She described the accompanying fair as a bridge between innovation and real-world application, enabling investors, students, policymakers, and developers to converge on solutions.

Calling for a “paradigm shift,” she urged participants to move beyond diagnosing problems and instead co-create measurable, inclusive solutions. She stressed that Africa cannot afford fragmented planning approaches, warning that unmanaged population growth could produce “chaotic, inequitable, and environmentally fragile urban environments.”

With Africa needing an estimated $93 billion annually to close its infrastructure gap, she urged stakeholders to prioritise technology-driven financing, improved land tenure systems, climate-resilient planning, and lessons from visionary leaders like Jakande.

In his keynote address, Lagos Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Abiodun Olumide, cautioned that Africa could either seize the moment to build future-ready cities or be overwhelmed by unmanaged urbanisation. He estimated the region’s wider infrastructure deficit at between $130 billion and $170 billion annually, insisting that only effective land governance, integrated planning, and innovative financing can bridge the gap.