Surveyors tasked on boundary demarcations

Experts have emphasised the need to build capacities of land surveyors to enhance decision-making on land and maritime boundary demarcations in the country.

They spoke at a two-day workshop entitled, ‘Nigeria’s Land and Maritime Boundary Demarcation and Management,’ organised by the Office of Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGoF) in Abuja.

The forum, which was facilitated by the Training Coordinator of AFR Boundary Experts Nigeria Limited, Bashir Shettima and his partner, Arowolo Oladipopo, took place in the conference hall of the Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON).

The Surveyor-General of the Federation (SGoF), Samuel Taiwo, who declared the training open, said boundary of land and maritime was crucial for effective administration and socio-economic development.

He maintained that there were political and technical aspects of boundary, which require deeper knowledge in view of the dynamic nature of surveying and mapping profession.

Taiwo urged the participants to upgrade their knowledge for effective discharge of their duties. The Training Coordinator, Shettima, said: “The surveyors are expected to exhibit clear understanding of boundary marking, definition and management as the public always expect the surveyors to provide solutions to boundary issues.”

Shettima disclosed that the training was designed to expose participants to practical aspects of boundary management.

He noted that participants would also be exposed to the principles of boundary making, archival search, initial charting/analysis, boundary treaties, role of surveyors in boundary works, boundary disputes and resolution, final demarcation, maritime boundary limits as provided under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 11 and other legal instruments.

The Head, Department of International Boundary, Maliam Shuaibu, described the training as an opportunity for the surveyors and some of the support staffers in OSGOF.