LASG, ROYAL INSTITUTION OF SURVEYORS SEEK COLLABORATION FOR PROPER LAND ADMINISTRATION

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has called on professional surveyors in Nigeria to take a more active role in shaping the nation’s physical and economic development.

Speaking on Wednesday through the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, during a courtesy visit by the Global President of Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Nicholas Maclean, held at the Official Residence of the Deputy Governor, said surveyors must become more visible and speak up for what is right to advance effective land management and sustainable urban development in Nigeria.

According to him, “Surveyors as a professional body, need to collaborate with the government and enlighten the public on how essential planning and structuring our land is. Doing this is key to unlocking Nigerian land assets that could serve as economic leverage if properly documented,” noting that surveyors are extremely important to the development of any country. Besides, he was of the view that for Africa to really develop, it depends on how much they can structure their environment, citing that Europe and other continents are developed because of their painstaking spatial management.

Speaking further, Sanwo-Olu stated that Lagos occupies just 0.34 percent of Nigeria’s landmass, whereas, it houses over 20 million people; as such, proper land management is crucial to prevent chaos and drive sustainable urban development in the state.

He highlighted that the Lagos State Government is implementing a comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS) to map every inch in Lagos, thereby improving transparency, accessibility, and land ownership, calling on Professional surveyors to speak up, support, and promote the initiative of the government to solve the land problem

“Lagos State is determined to digitize land records because we know it’s important. And we realized that studies have shown that 90 percent of Africans who are poor are not actually really poor. They have assets that are not collateral. Because people have the land, but there are no titles. So that is why we are digitizing. We are using GIS to map every inch of our land,” Sanwo-Olu stated.

Accordingly, he emphasized the need to strengthen the link between academic institutions and professional practice, noting that many surveying graduates often divert into unrelated fields due to limited industry engagement, underscoring that closer collaboration between universities and professional bodies will help nurture competent surveyors who will contribute meaningfully to national development.

In his remarks, The Global President of Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Nicholas Maclean who was jointly represented by a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Mr. Uche Obi and the Managing Director, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Middle east and Africa, Mr. Godfrey Dobson reaffirmed the commitment of RICS to deepening professional engagement and educational collaboration in Nigeria.

Dobson highlighted that the organization is dedicated to promoting global standards of professionalism, integrity, and technical expertise across diverse disciplines from land and mineral surveying to construction, property management, and heritage conservation.

Emphasising the importance of Nigeria’s dynamic and fast-growing economy, he noted that the institution is eager to partner with local universities to create opportunities for students and young professionals. “Achieving chartered status under RICS not only enhances credibility within Nigeria but also opens international pathways for professionals to share knowledge and expertise globally,” he said.

Also speaking, Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Mr. Uche Obi, noted that the Institution is in Nigeria to support the local surveyor institution, including their local members, to make sure that they are doing the right things and following the right standards put in place by the institution.

Obi stated that following the international standard is important because it not only benefits the country or just the people in the country, but also attracts international investors.

According to him, “We’re playing in the international market, so we’re helping, getting a closer relationship with the local chapter, and ensuring that they’re following the right standards, helping the members, and making sure that they’re young people coming in to fill the gap. So how do we go into the universities to make sure that younger people know what we do and follow the standards, so that everything works well in the built environment, from housing to transportation.”