By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) has called for closer collaboration with government and investors to unlock Kogi State’s economic potential through professional asset valuation.
Speaking at the 2026 Valuation Day in Lokoja, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Wealth: How Valuation Builds Our Prosperity,” the state chairman of NIESV, John Eniwaiye, said many national and state assets remain underutilised due to inadequate identification and valuation.“
Nigeria is endowed with land, minerals, real estate and human capital, yet much of this wealth is underused because it has not been properly measured and valued,” he said. Eniwaiye described valuation as critical to economic planning, noting that it enables taxation, investment, insurance, and access to credit. He added that proper valuation could help convert dormant assets into productive capital, boost internally generated revenue, and attract investment.
He referenced global estimates suggesting that large volumes of assets in Nigeria remain unregistered or unvalued, limiting their economic use.The NIESV chairman urged the Kogi State Government to develop a comprehensive asset register, implement land use charges, and ensure compliance with professional valuation standards in public transactions.
He also called on financial institutions to rely on certified valuation reports when approving loans, saying this would strengthen confidence in the financial system. Eniwaiye said the institution remains ready to support policies that promote transparency, investment, and sustainable development.
