PMParrot/Parrot Xtra’s correspondent, EMMANUEL ADENIRAN recently had an encounter with Ekiti State’s Surveyor General, Surveyor Ibidunmoye Olaniyi and he shared his view on the dangers of patronizing quacks and the efforts of the government in addressing this problem among many salient issues… Excerpts
Can you appraise the recently held Nigerian Institution of Surveyors Annual General Conference in Ekiti?
The Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, (NIS) is celebrating its 88th year of existence and this was the 56th edition of the annual general conference. It is rotated among the states of the federation and since the creation of Ekiti State over 25 years ago; we have never been privileged to host it. However, during my tenure as the Surveyor General of Ekiti State, I collaborated with the Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Ekiti State branch, that the state is equally qualified to host it.
We have been collaborating with other states of the federation and when it was zoned to the Southwest, we gave our support to our sister states, Ondo and Lagos States, and they jointly approved that Ekiti is peaceful and should be supported to host the event.
The conference hosted by Ekiti state is the first event having over 3,000 delegates in attendance, it furthers the projected image of the state, and kudos must be given to the Dr. Kayode Fayemi-led administration for building a befitting civic center in the state. The delegates were surprised to see such a magnificent edifice hosting the event.
It is on record that only Abuja has such a facility in the whole of the federation, I also want to emphasize that Ekiti hosted a landmark event, there was no record of a robbery, and the security personnel ensured that every route that linked the state were properly monitored and the delegates were hosted to a first-class luxury.
Can you briefly tell our readers what Surveying as a profession is all about?
Well-developed cities are well-mapped cities. Where there is no planning, there would be no progress. Surveying is the beginning of all planning and it is the bedrock of all development. Before any development could take place, a surveyor is the first person that will enter the bush and it is their observation that every other developmental agency will use.
Moreover, it is so unfortunate that by the time they are doing the commissioning of the project, you will not see the names of the Surveyors but only that of the Architect and the Engineers. A Surveyor is a person who determines the parameters for the structure, the topography of the area, and the size and shape of the land before designing.
Surveying is an act of science and art that deals with measurements on the sea, land, air, and beneath the earth’s surface and before any construction or grading is done, a surveyor needs to know the quantum of the earth and sand that is needed to do the job if not the Engineer will run into a loss. A Surveyor has to be fully on-site for monitoring and to give accurate details and measurements to determine the specific number of tons of earth to use.
What role is your office playing to educate landowners on the importance of employing professionals in the field of surveying?
Firstly, I appreciate the Governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, and the Hon. Commissioner for Lands, Urban and Regional Development in Ekiti State, Chief Diran Adesua for their support.
When I assumed office, I discovered that some buildings were approved without the survey; we decided to educate them that arbitrary approval is wrong. People want to acquire land but nobody wants to pay for the quantum of land they are occupying and the only area where accurate measurements can be determined is by doing the proper survey. The survey will give the exact area of land and will determine what the owner intends to build on it. In addition, I have given a directive that before any land could be approved in the local government’s headquarters that it must be accompanied by the approved survey plan because many landowners have been duped with fake survey plans.
What is the Ekiti State Government doing to address the issue of quackery in the profession?
In every profession, there are quacks, but since my assumption in office, the rate of quackery in the profession has drastically reduced.
Professionals are different – the way quacks place the beacons will always show the difference between a quack and a professional, and when such an individual does a shoddy job, it will not be approved. We also have a charting plan in Ekiti State and any survey brought to the office of the Surveyor General must be verified to determine the correct geo-positioning and location.
Furthermore, after verifying the geo-information of the land based on the Universe Transverse Marketta, (UTM) where all points in the whole world can be charted to determine the location even if such an individual is in America.
Surveyors have a chat map where all surveys can be chatted and from it, we usually discover many quackery jobs.
Even if you are a trader selling in the market, you do not need to know the Surveyor General before you get your survey approved. I make my office accessible to every resident of the state and once your survey is correct, the approval will not be delayed.
What are the regulations that guide the conduct of the surveying profession?
I want to assure you that in all spheres of the building profession, surveying is the most regulated. Starting from the placement of beacons, there is a regulation that backs it up that a pillar number and plan number must not be duplicated. Every survey must be carried out according to the rules and regulations and you must have to connect to the government survey. There are penalties for flouting any of the rules.
Unfortunately, many of the penalties are not taken into consideration, even for uprooting a survey beacon. The penalty for uprooting a survey beacon is a jail term whether you are the landowner or not because it is government property.
What are the relationship between your office, the Ministry of Justice, and the House of Assembly in prosecuting offenders?
One thing I want people to realize is that in our society today, the law is meant for low-class and middle-class citizens. Those who flout the rules are the high-class citizens who use their influence to get justice for themselves.
However, since I assumed office, I give equal preference to every class of citizens in the state. An incorrect survey cannot be approved, I have had so many instances where people of high caliber came to me and after reviewing their plan, if found faulty, it will not be approved. Nobody can buy my conscience because whatever I do today will reflect tomorrow. Surveying is scientifically engraved, that an error of today will be revealed in 100 years. Therefore, whatever you do, you have to ensure that you have the correct geo-information of the plan.
How fulfilled are you hosting the Surveyors’ program in Ekiti State?
When talking about fulfillment, I can say that the successful completion of this program is one of the happiest moments in my life, hitch-free and glorious.
As earlier said Ekiti State recorded the highest number of delegates with over 3000 members, unlike some cases where after the first two days of the conference, the attendance would have reduced drastically.
The success recorded gladdens my heart and gives me joy. I feel fulfilled because the event happened during my tenure and this is the first of its kind in the state.
What is your message to intending buyers of lands and houses in Ekiti State?
People should investigate the status of the land before committing themselves to it financially.
They are free to approach any registered surveyor in the state to transact their business or the office of the Ekiti State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Surveyors (NIS) or the office of the Surveyor General to find out the status of the land.
Many lands that are within the Government Reservation Area (GRA) will be reviewed by the office of the Surveyor General. A Surveyor will confirm if the land falls within the area or not.
My advice for everyone is to ensure that they verify the status of lands before purchase and they should stop patronizing quacks but only registered Surveyors in the state.
If people are unaware of the status of any land, they should approach the relevant agencies for verification; they have the lists of surveyors and their locations.
How many registered Surveyors do we have in Ekiti State?
There are over 75 registered Surveyors in Ekiti State. The list is accessible and it is free at the State Office of the Ekiti State Nigerian Institute of Surveyors (NIS). People should endeavor to make use of the lists and avoid transacting business with unregistered and quack surveyors parading themselves in the state.
