By Christiana Ekpa
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Ph.D, has urged the Nigerian Surveyors to develop a strategic framework that will help to tackle insurgency, terrorism and other insecurity challenges bedevilling the country.
He said that this could be done through the proper mapping of the country to enhance the operational efficiency of the Armed Forces and other security operatives involved in the battle against insurgency and terrorism.
Speaker Abbas also urged the surveyors to be deeply involved in finding lasting solutions to the boundary conflicts across the nation.
The Speaker gave the charge during a courtesy call on him in Abuja on Tuesday by the Nigerian Institute of Surveyors (NIS) led by its President, Dr. Mathew Ibitoye.
Represented by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Speaker Abbas also commended the institution for contributing immensely to the economic development of the nation.
He said: “I want to commend your role in advancing land administration. Land has been a source of conflicts and insecurity. If you go to the courts today, you will see land matters that have dragged on but with the help of surveyors, decisions are made easier by the judiciary because they rely on your professional evidence that you provide. So, you contribute to conflict resolution, to the peace and unity of this nation by letting every man to know that from Point A to Point A belongs to you but C to D is not yours.
“This is what the map is saying. And once you give your expert opinion in land related matters, that is settled. Boundary disputes have been reduced more than how it would have been if the surveyors were not there. When you have boundary disputes, conflicts that come out of it may end up taking lives.
“Before insurgency, terrorism and all that, boundary dispute was the major cause of so many deaths. You see States, communities fighting. Nothing spills blood more than land disputes. So, you have played a significant role in increasing the level of peace and unity in our country and we commend you for the work you are doing.
“But we will urge the institution to play a further, harder role to help tackle the worrisome security challenges that we have in this country by developing a strategic framework that will enable the country to be properly mapped.”
