FG places embargo on issuance of C of O’s, survey plans along shoreline

By Chris Ochayi

The Federal Government has placed embargo on all requests for issuance of Certificate of Occupancy and survey plans along the shoreline.

The Surveyor General of the Federation, SGOF, Surv. Abudulganiyu Adeyemi Adebomehin, who announced this development, added that further action will commence pending the determination on merit for further processing by OSGOF, National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, should collate and submit all approvals granted to any individuals or corporate business entity to the OSGOF and any documents earlier submitted to any organization or MDAS concerning his organization should be redirected to SGOF.

Surveyor General of the Federation (SGOF) Surv. Abudulganiyu Adeyemi Adebomehin

This is a fall out of recent development where the Office of the Surveyor General Office, OSGOF, was moved to the Presidency and assigned with some new roles and responsibilities.

Speaking recently, while briefing the Executive team of Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, NIS, and Association of Private Practising Surveyors of Nigeria, APPSN, Abuja branch during a courtesy call on him, Adebomehim vowed the President’s directive will be strictly executed.

He said there are still some MDAS duplicating the roles and functions of OSGOF despite the public pronouncement that the organization has been moved to Presidency for proper oversight and also sounded a note of warning to some states that are still allocating space(s) within the shoreline contrary to Presidents directive without OSGOF involvement.

According to him, “The enforcement unit will demolish anything within the right of way(ROW) , is an executive order , FG doesn’t want any unapproved allocation around the shoreline subject to the law of the sea and there is a strong commitment to let everyone be aware of this because OSGOF has the map right map.”

While commenting on the movement of OSGOF to Presidency the President, NIS Sur Chief PC Eze said “I would like to express our sincere appreciation for your tireless efforts in advancing the surveying profession in Nigeria. It is a pleasure to meet you in person and discuss with you ways we can work together to promote our shared goal.

“The entire school, they are desirous of seeing you and thanking you and having a handshake. So, at this juncture, we are going to cooperate with you. This is what we have been praying for, and it is on ground now.”

He said, “We have, APPSN , NIS and OSGOF , let there be a synergy, so that we can achieve so many things that have been eluding us in the past. I want to say, you are very energetic. So, really, we are moving better now. And the tripod is set with iron protector at the tip of the legs. So, it cannot wither away.“

While presenting their demand to SGOF, the NIS Secretary –General Surv. Folakemi Odunewu said “We are excited about this visit and I will read out what we are looking forward to doing with your office. So it is a courtesy visit and gratitude for transfer of office to the Presidency..

“We have a Seven point agenda; “digital transformation of the National Secretariat, Public Relations and Advocacy and extension to other relevant stakeholders, Survey Coordination Act re-agitation, develop additional structure of awarding professional excellence among NIS members, comprehensive use and focusing on our core projects and pushing for the establishment of the Ministry of Surveying and Geoinformatics.“

All issues raised above were deliberated upon extensively by all the stakeholders who were at the meeting