Geospatial Information critical in achieving SDGs –Surveyor General

By Ochiaka Ugwu

Creating a formal geospatial information is critical to realization of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Surveyor-General of the Federation, Surv. Taiwo S. Adeniran has said.
Surv. Adeniran who made this known Tuesday in Abuja at the 54th Virtual 2020 Survey Coordination Conference and Meeting of the Advisory Board on Survey Training said the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) initiatives was established to create a formal geospatial information coordination mechanism involving member States as the key stakeholders.
He said these initiatives have recognized the significance of geospatial information in almost every sector of government, and commerce, academia and societal development.
He noted that to achieve Optimum results from geospatial information, it requires the content to be provided in a format that is consistently adaptable to datasets at the next level.
“Interoperable geospatial information relies upon Common frameworks, Standardization and compliance, adopted at every tier. Such a task is beyond any single nation or even region, and it is for these reasons and more, that UN-GGIM was established” he said.
“The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
“They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructures, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Life Below water, Life on Ground, and Partnerships.
“They are 17 Goals and are all interconnected, and-in order to optimize their outcome, which translate to good Governance, it is important that we achieve them all by 2030 and Geospatial Information is key to the success of SDGs even before finance” he noted.
He expressed optimism that all the participants in the conference would avail themselves the opportunity to exchange idea that would bring about”fundamental development in surveying and mapping in Nigeria.
In a paper presentation titled, “Remote Detection of Cannabis Plantations in Idanre Forest Reserve, Nigeria using Multispectral Landsat Imagery” Surv. Yusuf Aro-Lambo stated the spectral measurement of cannabis and other related plants were recorded with a spectroradiometer.