Georges Ghanem, General Manager of GIS/Transport Ltd., has cautioned that the creation of parallel agencies weakens Geographic Information System (GIS) land management in Nigeria.
Ghanem made the remark in his keynote address at the 46th conference of the National Cartographic Association (NCA), which opened on Monday in Abuja. The conference, themed “Geospatial Intelligence Mapping for Poverty Alleviation and Security Management,” runs from September 8 to 12.
He stressed that GIS coordination should be handled by the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGOF), as mandated by law. However, he noted that some ministries were establishing politically motivated parallel agencies to bypass OSGOF’s authority.
“Whenever we are frustrated in the civil service, we create a parallel system because we cannot confront the existing system, which is wrong. If land reforms are to succeed, the civil service must be strengthened with proper technical capacity. Digital transformation of ministries should be prioritised, rather than creating duplicate structures,” he said.
Ghanem highlighted land ownership as critical in tackling poverty, pointing out that only about 10 percent of Nigerians currently own land despite its abundance. He described land ownership as a stabilising factor that fosters social security, economic empowerment, and increased government revenue when properly managed through GIS-based allocation.
He added that strengthening land administration through automation and digitalisation would also limit the ability of criminal groups and terrorists to exploit landless populations for recruitment.
According to him, the Nigeria Land Use Act of 1978 already provides a workable legal framework, and the focus should be on reforming ministries, streamlining processes, and empowering technical officers such as the Surveyor General and town planners—rather than duplicating GIS responsibilities through new agencies.
Also speaking at the event, the National President of the NCA, Prof. Mommoh Rilwan, described the conference theme as timely for addressing pressing national development challenges. He called for the establishment of a regulatory body to oversee mapmaking in Nigeria, stressing that only certified professionals should be allowed to produce maps for planning and sustainable development.
“Accurate maps are vital for decision-making and long-term national growth. A regulatory body will ensure practitioners are properly certified and adhere to professional standards,” Rilwan said.