FCT Minister Lectures Surveyors On Use Of ICT To Improve Their Services

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has lectured members of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) on how to take advantage of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to upgrade the operation of surveying profession in the country.
The minister, who spoke when he received in audience, members of the FCT Chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors in his office in Abuja, said that ICT would go a long way in facilitating and improving the professional performance of the members and make the job a lot easier.
Muhammad Bello said that upgrading of members knowledge in the use of ICT would open new opportunities and make them to compete favourably with their counterparts in other parts of the world.
He promised to equip all land related professional departments in the FCT administration with modern equipment within available means.
The Minister said that Federal Capital Territory is a product of law and for every development to take place, it must be in accordance with the laid down rules and regulations.
The minister said that his government would encourage all professional departments in the FCT to operate within the law in order to strengthen the institution.
He said that his government has so far ensured that decisions taken on the all land related departments are based on inter- departmental approvals to reduce any problems like cases of double allocation.
He therefore called for continued professional collaboration and support to rid the system of quacks by insisting on doing the right thing with the stipulated regulations.
The Chairman of the FCT Chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Surveyor, Chiemezie Azuonwu, suggested that since there are offices of the Surveyor-General at the federal level as well as in the 36 states of the federation, the FCT Administration should establish the same, arguing that FCT is just like a state.
He advised the FCT administration to look into the cases of most estates in the Phase III of the Federal Capital City which have not been properly surveyed.
The Chairman also appealed to the minister to ensure that FCT maps are regularly updated in tune with present realities.
Surveyor Azuonwu noted that Abuja is still construction in progress and suggested that one of the foundations of every development is to define the location, which is the primary work of the survey profession. [myad]