In demonstration of the commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria to stem violations of its Survey Coordination Act (SCA), the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGoF) as implementer of the provisions of the act has constituted a task force of the Implementation Committee.
The 8-member task force which will be headed by a senior military officer was constituted at the inaugural meeting of the SCA Implementation Committee held recently at the conference room of the Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON) in Abuja.
The implementation committee which is being coordinated by the HoD of the Surveyor Coordination of OSGoF, Surv. Semiu Ayinde was inaugurated by the Surveyor General of the Federation (SGoF), Surv. Abuduganiyu Adeyemi Adebomehin at the collaboration meeting of OSGoF with the Nigerian Military, the police and other paramilitary agencies in Abuja on January 26, 2023.
Director of Intelligence Survey Department, Surv. Emmanuel Nwakama who represented the SGoF at the inaugural meeting said the act was legislated just about 2 years after Nigeria got her independence adding that efforts were being made for the review of the act.
Surv. Ayinde who announced members of the task force said they would be introduced to several surveying tools and techniques for them to be able to identify the various equipments being used by practitioners in surveying and geoinformatics. He stated that they would be properly trained to be able to ascertain persons dubiously engaging in surveying and mapping of areas within our geographical entity. He advised members of the task force to also familiarize themselves with the provisions of the SCA.
President of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Surv. Dr. Kayode D. Oluwamotemi commended the leadership of OSGoF for successfully inaugurating the SCA Implementation Committee and the eventual formation of the implementation task force to give teeth to the act. He pledged the support of the NIS for the success of the task ahead of the implementation committee.
Speaking on behalf of the Defence Headquarters, Brigadier General Silas Obot thanked OSGoF for taking bold steps towards the implementation and enforcement of the SCA. General Obot noted that surveying has serious security implications and that the military and all other security agencies of the country see this as a national assignment, and would work assiduously to ensure compliance.
The meeting deliberated on the investigation and enforcement procedures and had presentation of the terms and reference (ToR). The task force would be expected to review the ToR and the procedures for investigation and enforcement.
The task force comprises representatives of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Signed:
Abu, I. Michael
Head of Press and Public Relations, OSGoF
