Enugu Probes Fake Survey Technicians

The Enugu State Government is to collaborate with Surveyor Council of Nigeria and the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors to ensure certification of uncertified Surveyor Technicians in the employment of the state.

The State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime gave the promise when he received in audience the President and Council Member of Surveyors Council of Nigeria at the Government House, Enugu recently.

Represented by his Deputy, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, Governor Chime  noted that the collaboration became very necessary to update the knowledge of those technicians and qualify them as professional surveyors.

He said that government had already commenced total renovation of the Surveyor Division of the State Ministry of Lands and promised to equip the office of the Surveyor – General with all the needed 21st modern surveyor equipment to enhance their operational efficiency.

The state chief executive described surveying as one of the oldest organized professional body in Nigeria that has contributed immensely to the development of the society, adding that government was working out legislation that would improve the efficiency of survey products delivery and satisfy the needs of the state.

Earlier in his speech, the President, Surveyors Council of Nigeria, Alhaji Ganiyu Agunbiade had described surveying as the bedrock of development and an indispensable tool in decision making, especially in locating areas and positions on earth.

Alhaji Agunbiade, therefore, called on the state government to up-grade the office of the Surveyor General of the state to status of extra ministerial department and direct that surveyors from the office of the Surveyor General be deployed to all ministries, agencies to help coordinate all geospatial requirements of government to avoid duplication.

He, however, observed with dismay the poor state of affairs in the office of the Surveyor General of the State and suggested the revival of the photogram metric section and digitization of their cartographic section to ensure that mapping products that would aid government’s decision making are produced in Enugu.

According to him, with Nigeria’s two satellites in the orbit to provide imagery for the country to help monitor deforestation and other ecological problems, to the equipment would help the office of Surveyor General interpret those information and imagery so monitored.

The President of the Council used the forum to commend Governor Chime for the Geographical Information Service (GIS) and mapping projects embarked upon by government and expressed the hope that it should be sustained and continuously updated as “mapping is a continuous project”.