The Chairman of the Association of Private Practising Surveyors in Nigeria (APPSN), FCT Branch, Surv. Solomon Olukotun and members of his council in a seminar held recently at Jabi in Abuja succeeded in bringing together the Surveyor General of the Federation (SGoF), Surv. Samuel Adeniran Taiwo and other experts in surveying and geo-informatics profession to brainstorm on the challenges in surveying practice especially in the FCT in order to realize such practice that would be beneficial to the country’s administrative city and Nigeria as a whole.
Lead papers and talks on how surveying and mapping can entrench seamless formulation of policies, laudable projects and their successful implementation in boosting security and socioeconomic development were delivered by the SGoF, the Chief Consultant of Arinmap Surveying, Mapping and Geo-Information Consultants, Surv. L. Layi Arinola and the National Chairman of APPSN, Surv. Yomi Bobadoye. Their talks ignited thought-provoking discourses from array of experts at the seminar.
While speaking to his paper titled, “Surveying Practice in FCT: The Burden of Land Tenure System and lack of Adaptability to Change”, Surv. Taiwo expatiated on the importance of surveying and geo-informatics in solving socioeconomic and environmental challenges. He reiterated that surveyors are solution providers and as such charged them to prioritize the agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria in their practice. There are hardly any areas that do not require geospatial solutions, the SGoF pointed. He states that “Without surveying and geospatial inputs, the 17 SDGs would not be realized by 2030, which is the terminal date.”
He observed that the 9 priority areas of the Federal Government which were to stabilize the macro economy; increased agricultural productivity, and food security; ensure energy sufficiency; improved transportation and other infrastructure; drive industrialization; improved health, education, and productivity of Nigerians; enhanced social inclusion by scaling up social investments; fight corruption and improve governance; and security for all citizens have been condensed into Security, Economy and Anti-Corruption (SEA).
Surv. Taiwo explained the need for surveyors to study the agenda so as to align their activities with the SEA to provide government with the geospatial inputs needed to solve the country’s security problem, socioeconomic and environmental challenges. The Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGoF) according to him has since tied all its activities to the Federal Government’s agenda, the SEA. The projects already proposed by OSGoF to facilitate the achievements of the SEA and other laudable projects of the Federal Administration which he listed include production of National Large Scale Cadestral Township Mapping; establishment of National Geographic Information System (NGIS); Operationalizing Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (IGIF) for Evidence Based Decision Support System (EBDSS); establishment of Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS); and Survey of Right of Way (RoW) for title documents for roads.
In his paper titled, “Surveying Practice in FCT: Problems and Prospects”, Surv. Arinola admonished APPSN and the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) to ensure synergy with OSGoF towards the promotion of best surveying practices.
He expressed worries over the patronage of some persons and other professionals as surveyors by the public pointing that they lack the capacity and tenacity to execute the real works of the surveyors. He also expressed agreement with the SGoF that the real domain of the Geographic Information System (GIS) lies with the surveyors noting that there was need for all surveyors in the country to close ranks to protect the profession.
In his submission, Surv. Bobadoye urged the Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON) as the only regulatory body for surveying practice in Nigeria to put in place mechanism to check illegal infiltration by quacks especially in FCT. He also urged surveyors to ensure to abreast themselves with emerging technologies to remain at the top of the profession.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the Chairman of APPSN in FCT, Surv. Olukotun acknowledged the various challenges confronting surveyors and the practice of the profession in Abuja hence the choice of the title of the seminar, “Surveying Practice in FCT: Problems and Prospects.” He said there could be no better time than now to reflect on the challenges of the profession in FCT.
He mentioned that surveyors at the 21st century should not limit themselves to cadastral surveying but must take cognizance of engineering surveying, hydrographic surveying, application of the GIS and all other aspects hence the profession according to him was ubiquitous.
Signed:
Abu, I. Michael
Head of Press and Public Relations
