The Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), held it’s 58th Annual General Meeting (AGM) , with the theme ; ‘Innovation Technologies for Effective Management of Earth Resources, Digital Economy and National Security’ held on the June, 20th, 2023 in the nation’s capital, Abuja .
The Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer, Federal Housing Authority FHA, Senator Gbenga Ashafa who presented a lecture with the topic ‘Surveying and National Development’ stressed the need to Imbibe the culture of surveying in our national polity, going down memory lane to the origin of surveying in Nigeria spanned from the colonial era.
With versed experience in land management from the cosmopolitan Lagos state both as adminstrator, seasoned civil servant, politician, technocrat , bureaucrat and now at the top echelon of government agency saddled with the management of federal government housing projects and programs, as Managing Director, Chief Executive officer, Federal Housing Authority FHA, Senator Gbenga Ashafa as critical stakeholder is positioned to chart a new way forward for a robust surveying exercise across the country.
His wealth or experience over decades dates back to the period he served as Executive Secretary (ES) , Lagos state Land Use and Allocation Committee, and later Permanent Secretary, Lagos state Lands Bureau, with the present status as Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Federal Housing Authority FHA, no doubt had come a long way into appreciating the relevance of surveying to National Development in all ramifications.
With the indepth knowledge, it became obvious the numerous reforms and achievements garnered two years down the line to revolutionize surveying in the top echelon of government housing agency in Nigeria.
This included and not left out the interrelationship between Geo-information and Surveying as a corrolary to provision of quality housing system and equitable distribution of housing for all Nigerians.
The implementation of the Geographic Information System in FHA, known as FHAGIS with rejigged, repositioned and re-staffed department had greatly improved and positioned the electronic platforms for optimal performance.
In addition to staff development, modern survey equipment, softwares, to add relevance to it’s activities, considering the pivotal roles survey is playing on all the activities of FHA from pre, construction and post construction activities.
Since the idea of surveying was legendary spanning from analogue to the digital era of different forms, the new order and improvement deployed practically both on the field and academic environment had made surveying a new area of more exploration and exploitation.
Senator Ashafa who maintained at the occasion that the roles of surveying to National Development cannot be over emphaised, reeled out the multiple benefits of surveying to nation’s advancement.
He said Urban Planning, Energy Infrastructure, like Hydro Plants, Solar Energy, Power transmission, telecommunication infrastructure, Health care facilities, and above all Land Management System.
Others are Geology and Minerals, Forensic Mapping and Crime Scene investigation, Expert witness in court of law, Transportation Planning, Population, Boundary issues, Conflict Resolution, Flood Control and Prevention, and Environmental Issues to mention but a few.
Senator Ashafa used the occasion to chart a new course for a better performance in the survey profession to include continuous training of survey and modern trends in the field and other fields .
Review of relevant laws to conform with modern ones and activities of survey, remapping and coverage of the country including relevant laws and enforcement of new laws.
Profer solutions to the incessant security challenges using the surveying system to track dissidents and providing more information to addressing the nation’s security and environmental challenges.
Senator Ashafa who bemoaned the incessant building collapse asked the body to prefer solutions, as well as the desire to make input and in road to climatic change, a new trend.
Explore new areas of technology in survey that will capture, assessment, processing and management of geospatial information and development of appropriate land tools, that will provide functional, reliable and affordable solutions to challenges in the new world, as well as canvass for more funding from government for surveying and mapping in Nigeria.
Senator Ashafa used the occasion to congratulate the body for the success of this year’s conference, while urging them to sustain the tempo.
Yusuf Writes from Abuja and can be reached on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.
