Design and Implementation of Terra ledger: A Blockchain-Based Land Registry System for Transparent and Secure Property Management in Nigeria

Abstract

This project explores the design and implementation of TerraLedger, a blockchain-based land registry system aimed at addressing the inefficiencies, fraud, and corruption prevalent in Nigeria’s traditional paper-based property management framework. By leveraging decentralization, immutability, and transparency, TerraLedger enables secure land registration, automated ownership transfers through smart contracts, transparent encumbrance management, and real time verification of property records. The system was developed using the Prototyping Model to ensure iterative refinement, stakeholder involvement, and alignment with local legal and technical requirements. Secondary data from scholarly literature, government policies, and international case studies informed the design, while the Ethereum blockchain and associated smart contracts provide the technical foundation. TerraLedger demonstrates the potential of blockchain to enhance trust, efficiency, and accountability in land administration, offering a scalable model for modernizing property governance in Nigeria.