Yemisi Dada
As the world celebrates Global Surveyors Day, the Lagos State government has been challenged to put in place apparatus to enforce the anti-land grabbing law to put an end to harassment by thugs popularly called land grabbers or Omo onile.
Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, NIS, Lagos State Branch, Mr Olukolade Kasim, threw the challenge at a news conference to commemorate Global Surveyors Day at Alausa with the theme “Shaping the new world on the wisdom of surveying.”
The NIS Chairman represented by the Vice Chairman, Olukayode Ogundare, who acknowledged the challenges of urbanization in Lagos which included affordable accommodation, lack of data banks, urged the state government to conduct a census to ascertain the exact numbers of residents in the state to review and update its developmental agenda in line with the current realities.
He recommended more inclusion of professionals in state government policies to develop long term funding solutions for assisted land equity down market through mortgage.
“We hereby implore the State Government to as a matter of urgency look into the following to ensure that the dreams of the common Nigerian living in Lagos are realized: Improve the speed of Land Registration and Titling. Reduce the cost of land registration and titling. Enforce at conception, urban planning, rules and regulations in conformity with existing Master/ Model City Plans. Develop long-term funding solutions for Assisted Land Equity down-market through mortgage. Expand access to land acquisition financing. Develop partnerships on infrastructure development to reshape the urban vision of tomorrow. Create an enabling environment for PPPS, through processes and clear strategies on how to engage with Government.
Review and update existing Master/ Model City Plans, to ensure that they are integrated with existing Development Plans of the State”.
Corroborating the theme of the Global Surveyors Day, Chairman, Association of Private Practising Surveyors of Nigeria, Lagos Chapter, Mr. Afolabi Olaoluwa, advised members to be diligent and exhibit the highest standards of professionalism in the discharge of their duties, noting that a mistake by the surveyors could cause global catastrophe.
“There is a need to expand the horizon of our practice beyond guiding construction and development projects or determining the precise location of roads or buildings and proper depths for foundations. In NIS Lagos, we envision a well-planned and efficient Lagos with adequate housing, infrastructure, and universal access to employment and basic services such as water, energy, and sanitation. We have consistently promoted socially and environmentally sustainable human settlement development and have played an important role in shaping our State”
“Today, we join the rest of the world to contribute our voices to the Global transformation, I must declare that we support the Government’s vision of a Greater Lagos Africa’s model smart city and we shall continue to respond to the challenges of urbanization and the aspiration of residents”
“In Lagos State, we shall continue to contribute and respond to the challenges that a planned and sustainable habitat agenda is properly articulated so that short-, medium– and long-term solutions can be proffered for them”
Coordinator, Women in Surveying, Mrs Jumoke Joseph, who commended the resilience and courage of women in the profession, called for more synergy with the state government to maintain a sustainable, organized, liveable and friendly environment that will translate into an improved standard of living for the people of Lagos.