By Omonu YG Nelson
The Surveyor General of the Federation, Surv. Abuduganiyu Adebomehin, has called on state governors to elevate their respective State Surveyor General Offices to extra-ministerial status, emphasizing the crucial role of surveying professionals in infrastructural development.
“Virtually without surveying, there is nothing one can do,” Adebomehin stressed, highlighting the importance of surveying in determining points, distances, and angles. “If you want to see what isn’t visible to the eyes, engage in surveying techniques… Surveying is precision.”
The President of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Surv. Dr. Matthew Ibitoye, echoed this sentiment, noting that the inability to identify and locate resources hinders national development. “The best-developed countries are the well-mapped countries,” he said. “The government must prioritize comprehensive mapping programs to address environmental and related problems.”
Ibitoye urged the government to declare a state of emergency on mapping in Nigeria, mobilizing resources to update and expand mapping coverage. “Surveyors are the custodians of accurate geospatial information… The country cannot afford to overlook the importance of accurate, accessible, and up-to-date spatial data for national development and governance.”
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