By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
Stakeholders at the inaugural meeting held on Thursday by the committee set up to monitor the implementation of, and compliance with, the Nigerian Survey Coordination Act were unanimous on the need to have a seamless interagency collaboration towards a well coordinated and comprehensive survey data bank for national development.
Explaining to the gathering of stakeholders drawn from military and civil organisations, the Head of Department (HoD), Survey Coordination, Samiu Ayinde, who presided over the meeting said the Survey Coordination Act primarily aims to ensure that all manner of surveys, even including hydrographic, are done legitimately and harmonised at the OSGoF for proper and inclusive management at at the top echelon of national decision-making process.
He said, “There is need for harmonisation, need to avoid silo mentality whereby each person works independently, so that there is someone that coordinates all surveying activities across board for us to be able to manage it together at the top.”
He argued though the exempts some critical offices from depositing their survey data to the OSGoF, the unifying point there is that “we need to know where and the purpose for which such a survey is carried out by anybody whatsoever, for proper monitoring and administration in the national interest”.
Delivering the keynote address, Surveyor General of the Federation (SGoF), Surv. Abduganiyu Adebomehin, sought fruitful deliberation among the stakeholders towards addressing the menace of uncoordinated survey in the country.
He said where the current Act is lacking, it might be subjected to subsequent amendments so that OSGoF would have accurate information about all the survey activities of different organisations, adding that there are survey activities going on without properly monitoring.
On his part, Brig. General Silas Obot, who stood in for the Nigerian Defence Headquarters, said the idea of collaboration in carrying out surveys was a welcome development, urging the various military and paramilitary outfits, to join hand in ensuring coordinated survey for national security.
Members of the compliance taskforce on the implementation of the Survey Coordination Act include: Captain M. A Fana. (NN, Head); Surv. Ojinnaka Onwumere (OSGoF, Secretary);
Wing Commandcr A. A. Idris (NAF, member); Maj. (Surv.) ZA. Oshodi (NA, member); DCP Simon A. Lough (NPF, member); Mr Usman Nuhu Kemo (DSS, member); Dept. Dir. (Dr) Patrick Etta Oyong (FMoJ, member); and CSC Jairus Atumiye (NSCDC, member).
