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The Nigerian Institution of Surveyors(NIS), Oyo State branch has stated that only only about seven local governments out of the 33 in the state have qualified surveyors.
The State Chairman of the association, Prince Aderemi Kobiowu, made the closure at news conference to mark the 2020 Global Suveyors’ day at the weekend.
Kobiowu said the state government has been losing a lot of revenue as a result of the dearth of surveyors in the local governments, and appealed to the governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde to employ more qualified surveyors into the state’s civil service to prevent revenue loss.
His words: “This is as a result of the use of survey plan that might not be approved by the Office of Surveyor General for the building plan approval. The State Government is generating revenue on each survey plan through the submission of record copy and verification of the plan. But there are not enough surveyors to do the work.
“Surveying is the bedrock of any meaningful development of a land but if there is dearth of surveyors, then there is a problem in our developmental projects.”
The NIS Chairman said the association has been agitating for the creation of Department of Survey in all the local governments because they are the ones close to the grassroots, adding that that is where government generate a lot of revenue for the state.
He also stated that some of the factors mitigating against the ease of doing business in the state is access to land and credit facilities, adding that the instrument that is germane to both factors is the Certificate of Occupancy(C of O).
“The availability of the instrument would enable investors have assurance on the genuiness of the ownership of the land they are intending to acquire for their business activity. It will also ensure access to credit facility from financial institution, which will boost the economy of the individual and the state in general.
“There is there for the need for the government to relax the process of obtaining the document and the fees being charged. This will encourage a lot of people to obtain it and thus bring revenue into the coffers of the state government,” Kobiowu stated.
Kobiowu further stated that the association has submitted a blueprint for policy direction of Oyo State to Governor Makinde through the Commissioner for Lands , Housing and Urban Development, Barrister Abiodun Abdulraheem. He said the policy document was submitted to the governor in December 2019, adding that it centered on how the government can generate money and how issues affecting the masses can be dealt with.
The NIS chairman stated that the policy document addressed the issue of housing deficits in the state; factors affecting the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development; factors affecting the Office of Surveyor General of the State and how the shortage of qualified surveyors in the state can be addressed.
He said the association has embarked on massive sensitization of the public on why they should use qualified surveyors whenever they acquire a land and want to build on it , saying “Oyo State surveyors charge the lowest amount for survey in South West Nigeria.”
He added that the association decided to make this year’s celebration a low key event because of the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the whole world, adding that a lot of events lined up for the celebration was cancelled.
Every March 21 has been earmarked as surveyors’ day, to celebrate the recognition of surveyors in the world. The theme for this year’s celebration was: The Impact of Surveying Globally.
Those at the briefing include the association’s Secretary, Adefabi Dasola; Vice Chairman, Taiwo Oyejola and other members of the executive council as well as members of the association.