Minister Urges NTT Regional Governments to Accelerate Certification of Religious Land

Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Nusron Wahid has requested that regional governments in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) accelerate the certification of land for places of worship to ensure legal certainty and prevent potential land conflicts in the future. “I ask that no place of worship or educational institution remains uncertified,” Minister Nusron stated in Jakarta on Wednesday. He stressed the importance of legal certainty for religious sites in a diverse society, warning that uncertified land could lead to disputes with heirs later on. “Don’t let the place of worship be built, only for it to be contested by heirs. Therefore, it must be certified immediately so there are no problems in the future,” he said. According to ATR/BPN data, out of the total 7,018 plots of land for places of worship in NTT, only 42 percent have been certified. Minister Nusron expressed hope that through synergy with local governments, the acceleration of certification could be realised within the coming months. He reiterated that the certification service is provided free of charge for all places of worship, regardless of religion, including churches, mosques, and temples.