By ABAH SUNDAY, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) says it is prepared for a working collaboration with the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGoF), and other relevant agencies to tackle the prevailing security and economic challenges in the country by harnessing the unlimited potentials of Geospatial Information System (GIS).
Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made this known while speaking at a 2-day 2023 Geospatial (GIS) Day celebration hosted by OSGoF and other relevant agencies, which ended Wednesday in Abuja.
The Minister noted that his ministry is charged with the responsibility of internal security which is of great concern to the current administration, hence the need to deploy GIS towards addressing insecurity with its attendant economic consequences realtime.
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“So we are willing to partner with OSGoF to further enhance border and territorial security. It’s very important we as a country invest more in deployment of GIS, especially as it concerns national security,” he said.
Charging all relevant agencies, including NIPOST, to be on their toe and collaborate towards having a robust national geospatial database, the Minister noted that the era of mere ‘talkshops’ instead of workshops on critical issues is gone, adding that the Tinubu administration has no room for excuses.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Surveyor General of the Federation (SGoF), Surv. Abuduganiyu Adeyemi Adebomehin, stressed the importance of GIS to the overall national development, urging professionals to engage in intensive dialogue that would promote GIS and make a National Geospatial Data Infrastructure (NGDI) for the country a reality.
“The theme, “Celebrating the GIS Professional”, is inspiring, and it is my hope that it will provoke conversations, not only on the relevance of GIS, but also on the critical roles of GIS professionals in issues around national Security and sustainable Socio-economic development for Nigeria.
“The fact that GIS is a very important tool for data collection, their organisation, analysis, and distribution and as well as retrieval for updating of management plans makes it a reliable Decision-Making Support System (DMSS) for effective execution of projects and implementation of programmes.
“GIS is a veritable apparatus for urban planning and development, soil types identification and analysis, water management, among many other civil works just fo mention but a few,” he said.
The event witnessed paper presentations from professionals, presentation of cash prizes to winners of a GIS-based competition as well as licences to deserving GIS operators.
Isa Ibrahim Jalo, former director, Abuja Geographical Information System, AGIS, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, Chairman, NPC, Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, DG/CEO, National Meteorological, NiMet, Agency, Mr Aderoju Adelaide Mansur, head, Environment and Climate Change, NARSDA were among the professionals who made presentation.