The Surveyor General of the Federation (SGOF), Surv. Abuduganiyu Adeyemi Adebomehin, has said the Federal Government’s blueprint to remap Nigeria is progressing, affirming that the project enjoys the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Adebomehin made this known while hosting members of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Abuja branch, at his office in Abuja. He cautioned those opposing the movement of the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGOF) to the Presidency, stressing that such resistance would amount to challenging a presidential directive.
“His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was very interested after he was briefed by SGOF that the last time Nigeria was mapped was in the 70s. I don’t know why some people are threatening to go to court over this decision,” Adebomehin said.
He added that the transfer of OSGOF to the Presidency aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda, explaining that it strengthens the agency’s capacity to deliver on its mandate.
“This is the first time we would be having real surveying in Nigeria under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President. No one can challenge presidential order,” he stated.
The Surveyor General also disclosed that the Federal Government is preparing to commence the construction of an underground tunnel linking Victoria Island to Badagry in Lagos State. He described the project as the first of its kind in Africa.
“My office carried out the tour of the coastal bridge with the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi. The Federal Government is trying to put in a tunnel from Victoria Island to Badagry in Lagos State, and that will be the first tunnel in the whole of Africa,” Adebomehin revealed.
He further noted that the new administrative structure would allow OSGOF to respond faster to national needs and give the surveying profession greater visibility.
“My gain is to give the surveying profession ample opportunity to develop. It is much better for OSGOF to be under the Presidency to harness its potentials. The office has been working with low budget and slow in decision-making because of bureaucracy,” he said.
In his remarks, Surv. Robert Coker, Head of Hydrography at OSGOF, said the elevation of the office was long overdue.
“Anyone that is not happy with the movement of OSGOF to the Presidency amounts to fighting presidential order and they have to contend with the highest authority in the land,” Coker stated.
He urged surveyors to safeguard the image of the profession and mentor young practitioners.
Also speaking, Surv. Alfred Adeojo, Secretary of NIS FCT branch, commended Adebomehin’s leadership.
“With the movement of OSGOF to the Presidency, it means good things are ahead of us, and it took the SGOF a lot of courage and boldness to achieve this. We, the young ones coming behind him, shall emulate this,” he said.
The SGOF stressed that mapping Nigeria is central to development planning and infrastructure delivery, assuring that the ongoing blueprint would provide updated data to guide government projects and private sector investments.
