OSGOF Reps in MDAs presents challenges, inputs in nation building

The representatives of the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGOF) across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies have presented their scorecards and challenges.

The presentation was made before the Surveyor General of the Federation (SGOF), Abduganiyu Adebomehin during a meeting held at the organization conference room recently.

The Reps at the event, the Head of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing department Surv Azeez Afeez in his opening remarks said, “What is the relevance of your activity within that particular MDA that you are working?.
“So we’ll recommend or suggest that all the head of units within the agency just give us brief activities of our surveying and mapping in that particular MDA.”

The Head of the Department of Survey Coordination in OSGOF who is in charge of the representatives at the MDAs, Surv. Oga Sunday in his opening remarks said “I want to welcome you to this round table meeting.

“This is just to have a discussion on what is going on in other agencies. What are you bringing to the table? We’re interested in your experiences, so that we can know where we can come in. This is the first of its kind as I am new in this role. I believe with you all around, we will have a very robust discussion this morning.”
The representatives, one after the other presented their report in no particular order and summarized their inputs .

OSGOF has contributed to the defence and security of the country through assisting in the marking of the black spots and has provided much information that has impacted on the security measures through surveying and mapping of the black spot of volatile areas in the country.

OSGOF at the Border Communities Development Agency (BDCA) produced the standard map of River State and able to identify possible barriers using mapping and the office is able to assist BDCA in some of their interventions.
Under the Ministry of Water Resources, OSGOF has also collaborated with some departments within the Ministry in Surveying and mapping of properties belonging to establishment nationwide, OSGOF has also established controls on the dams, reservoirs and irrigation for proper monitoring.

In the Ministry of Regional Development all the data capturing for the six regions within the Ministry were properly carried out for data purposes and referencing.

While in the Ministry of Environment, OSGOF had resolved the mapping and surveying issues within Anambra and Imo, the mapping out of the flood vulnerability area of River Benue was equally done for guidance and necessary follow–up.
National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) and some areas in Ogun State were in partnership on farming, OSGOF has equally carried out the mapping and surveying of the lands leased to NALDA by the people incase of any dispute that may arise during or after the farming exercise.

OSGOF is equally involved in the rail line job under the Ministry of Transportation and during the building of the rails over 70% of the jobs were directly related to surveying and mapping exercise.

Due to the importance of OSGOF to Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the office has been involved in most of the committees at the Ministry and the surveying content of the activities of farming were equally carried out by OSGOF office

Some of the challenges facing the OSGOF representatives at the MDAs include: Inadequate funding, under staffing, office space, lack of cooperation and lack of GIS laboratory.