The Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) has called on the Federal Government to implement a nationwide digital land mapping programme covering all 774 local government areas, saying the initiative would strengthen land administration, attract investment, reduce land disputes and accelerate economic development.

President of the NIS, Pius Chukwuemeka Eze, made the proposal Thursday while delivering his address at the opening of the institution’s 60th Annual General Meeting and Conference in Kano.

Eze said Nigeria could not fully unlock its economic potential without a comprehensive and unified digital cadastral system, stressing that accurate geospatial data remains the foundation for infrastructure development, agriculture, urban planning, environmental management and national security.

He proposed a “one local government, one digital parcel map” initiative to be implemented across the country’s 774 local government areas.

According to him, “Nigeria cannot attract investment or resolve land disputes without a unified digital cadastre. We propose a one local government area, one digital parcel map pilot across all the states. We have the GNSS control, we have the technical capacity, and surveyors are ready to do the job. What we need is political will and funding.”

The NIS president said the proposed initiative would modernise land administration, improve property registration, enhance revenue generation and provide reliable geospatial information for government planning and private sector investment.

He noted that geospatial information has become the “new currency” in today’s digital economy, arguing that surveyors play a central role in acquiring, processing and managing the spatial data upon which development decisions are made.

“We are the architects of the nation’s spatial framework. Without rigorous mapping and geodetic data collection, other sectors operate with significant uncertainty and financial risks,” he said.

Eze added that sustainable economic growth could not be achieved without accurate surveying, insisting that roads, housing projects, agricultural programmes, security operations and climate initiatives all begin with reliable spatial data.

He urged governments at all levels to integrate surveyors more fully into development planning and infrastructure execution, saying geospatial intelligence could improve decision-making and help address insecurity.

The NIS president also called for the completion of the National Cadastral Infrastructure and appealed for greater government investment in surveying technology and capacity development.

He advocated the establishment of a zonal geospatial institute in Kano to serve as a centre for training surveyors in emerging technologies.

Declaring the event open, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for Lands, Abubakar Abduljabar Umar, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting professional bodies and initiatives that contribute to development.