Curbing quackery: Ag. Surveyor General calls for collaboration of surveyor bodies

By Ochiaka Ugwu

Acting Surveyor General of the Federation (SGoF), Surv. Abduganiyu Adeyemi Adebomehin has expressed the need for strong collaboration between and among the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGoF), the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) and the Association of Private Practising Surveyors of Nigeria (APPSN) in order to curb infiltration of quackery in surveying and mapping.

In a press statement released in Abuja Tuesday and signed by Head of Press and Public Relations of OSGoF, Mr. Abu I. Michael noted that Surv. Adebomehin expresses this when officials of the NIS and APPSN both of the FCT Branch paid him a courtesy call at OSGoF Complex in Abuja recently.

 According to the Ag. SGoF, “Surveying and mapping activities are sacrosanct impinging heavily on the development of every human facet and therefore must not be left in the hands of quackery”.

He said OSGoF was aware of many unreliable maps in the public pointing out that steps were already being taken by the Office to address the matters and other related issues.

He pledged to ensure that only competent surveyors are engaged to carryout surveying and mapping pointing that OSGoF would ensure strict supervision of such activities to ensure that the government and other stakeholders get the best of geospatial data to achieve in planning and implementation of projects.

He mentioned that the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing would be adequately briefed so that the laws relating to matters of surveying and mapping in the country would be strengthened.

Earlier, Chairman of the NIS, FCT Chapter, Surv. Abiodun Peter Alonge and his APPSN counterpart, Surv. Solomon B. Olukotun pledged to support OSGoF for entrenchment of a more beneficial surveying and mapping practices in the country.

“They thanked the Ag. SGoF for his foresight and focus on addressing challenges in the profession noting that they were not surprised in view of several positions he had held and the impact he made” the statement concluded.