Mr. Olukolade Kasim is the chairman, Lagos State Branch, Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS). In this interview with BERTRAM NWANNEKANMA, he spoke on the importance of drones in surveying practice and need for government to authorise its use to curb building collapse and others issues
Q: Surveying is said to be an essential element in the development of the human environment in any country, how do you link it with the practice in Nigeria. Are surveyors doing enough to drive development in the country?
Yes, even if we should be able to do more, I will say yes. I will give us a pass mark. Surveyors have been at the bedrock of infrastructure, which this regime is taking around the country. I know in the railway lines, surveyors have been involved right from the inception.
Surveyors have made huge input in surveying aspects of road construction. So, I will give the Nigeria surveyors a pass mark, but I think with more engagement from government, we can do more and give more. We can stand on the same level with our colleagues all over the world. So, if government gives us more opportunities, we can have a mutually beneficial relationship.
Q: What has been your relationship with Lagos State government, especially in tackling building collapse?
With the spate of recent happenings, particularly, with the issue of building collapse, we are trying to push for a bill to ensure that buildings over three floors are monitored. This will ensure that at least, we don’t pray for such an unfortunate incident, but there will be some element of check. If that is done, we are also pushing for separate surveying inputs in infrastructural projects.
So, instead of lumping it up as a turnkey project, we have the surveying aspect, which should be strictly handled by surveyors. I am not saying that they are not being done by surveyors, but when surveyors come directly into the project, it is very reliable and they will be more careful than if it was just lumped under another professional body.
For any meaningful development, there is need to consult surveyors. If you see any smart city in any developed country, it must have had the input of surveyors. We are available and should be patronised. If we are patronised, you can be sure of quality jobs. So, for any development, which you want to put your money into, you must ensure that you engage professionals, so that they can be held responsible for any issues that may come up.
Q: Do you think that absence of surveyors in politics is affecting your recognition in the country?
On a lighter note, I don’t want to agree completely with you, because we claim the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is one of us. The Senate president too, is a member of an allied profession. Over the years, we have had surveyors, who have played key role in public life. Moreover, I agree with you, maybe we could do more. Most surveyors are now going into politics; I think we can bring professionalism into politics.
As surveyors, we are trained in precision and diligence, there is a lot we can bring into the political space, but we are also a bit conservative. I can tell you that in due course, this will change and it is changing already.
Q: Most Nigerian choice areas such as Lekki and Lagos Island are turning to slums, what do you think is responsible for that?
I have to sympathise with Lagos because of the population explosion and latest development that caught everybody by surprise. I have to give Lagos State government credit, because there is regeneration going on in parts of Lagos Island. Even the Lekki you mentioned, needs regeneration. As I said, government needs to engage us more, because for any development, surveying is the bedrock. The governor is a surveyor and realises the importance of surveyors.
As surveyors, we don’t give approvals, what we do is surveying, whether hydrographic or land. So, you can’t blame us if you have issues with development and stuff like that, we will only do our task.
Q: How do you rate government’s investment in the surveying profession?
Over the years, surveyors used to have a place of pride in Nigeria. In fact, during the colonial era, the surveyor-general used to be the number two men. When you look through history, we made claims of Herbert Macaulay being a surveyor. I know Oba Adeniji Adele II had a surveying background down to some of our past presidents like Adekunle Kukoyi. So, surveyors used to have a place of pride, but over the years, it has been dwindling.
With the advent of modern technology, you can see what we’ve lost by relegating surveying. Back then, pictorial views of Lagos would show you green spaces and stuff like that, but now, when you look at it, it is all buildings, no more green spaces. These are the things that with the latest technology in Geographic Information System (GIS), the technology will highlight these things.
So, I think, yes we’ve been neglected, but I think that they are seeing what they have missed. There is nothing wrong when we realise our mistakes, the thing is how to retrace our steps as soon as possible. We will continue to engage governments until they retrace their steps and give us our rightful place in the scheme of things.
Q: Do you think that adequate attention has been given to surveying?
What we are asking for is Federal Government patronage so they can improve our practices and build very solid profession. We assured them that anything could be handled here. There is no need to bring someone from somewhere to handle our projects. I hope government continues to patronise us to enable practitioners to build solid practice.
One of the problems that we have now is the issue of bringing drones into the country. A few of our members have their drone seized because they needed a permit from the office of the National Security Adviser. This takes a very long time. So, we are appealing to government to help us. I can understand for security reasons they may limit the sizes of the drones, because drones aid us in photogrammetric work.
They can exclude drones, which carry heavier tonnage, that may be subjected to these security checks. If government can help us in that regard, we will be grateful.
We also intend to sponsor a bill for monitoring of high-rise buildings. We will continue to push for that at the state level, but drones and stuff like that are what we will continue to push at the national level.
Q: Quackery has been a major challenge to the surveying profession. How is your institution handling the issue?
We are creating a stronger monitoring unit and revamping our ethics committee. We are also introducing what we call the monitoring committee task force. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, but we intend to empower the committee to look at that issue critically.
Q: What is the difference between surveying and mapping?
They are intertwined; mapping is an aspect of surveying. So, if you say you are mapping, you are carrying out a survey on another level. It is just large scale, so, surveyors are mappers and geographers.
Q: As the 15th chairman of the Lagos branch, what is your focus?
My focus will be the unity of all professional surveyors in the state. We have surveyors in private practice, the government and academia and a few working in our regulatory body.
So, my focus is to unify all of them under one umbrella . There are some groups, but when we have a united house, we can achieve much more than having different divisions.
Q: By saying unity does it mean there are factions in you profession?
Not necessarily, but at times, when you are working at cross purposes, you might not get the desired result, but if all of us are working together with one goal and purpose, we can push further.
Q: I recall few years ago, your institution increased its fees, with inflationary trend in the country, are planning to review your fees?
Between you and I, even now, a review is still necessary, but we all know the economy realities now, so, it will be a bit unfair, if we are to review fees again.
The honest truth is that the exchange rate affects everything and I can tell you that it affects our instrument more. We use position instruments and all of it is imported. We cannot afford to manage our equipment, because they are very fragile and need servicing and replacement over years.
The surveying space is one, whereby the rate at which instrumentation changes is amazing. Nigeria surveyors do not want to be left behind. We want to be able to compete internationally. We don’t want when jobs are coming in, and expatriates would say they want to bring in their own colleagues from other countries.
We want them to meet us fully equipped like they will find in their own countries. So, all this affects how we charge , but I think to our credit, we have tried as much as possible to maintain the fees as they are.
Q: Are there roles other institutions in the built environment should play in the fight against quackery?
Of course. In the built environment, there are no less than seven professionals, each with its regulatory and professional body. The issue of quackery affects every aspect of the industry. every aspect is infiltrated by quacks and imposters. People, who claim to be professionals that are not. All of us have roles to play in maintaining set standards, weeding out quacks that impersonate us and making sure they are brought to justice.
Apart from the professional institutions, our clients and stakeholders too have their roles. The client must always at all times patronise the professionals.
Q: Do you think government is doing enough to address building collapse in Lagos?
In recent times, I would say they are stepping up. The panel of inquiry set up to investigate the Ikoyi building collapse has just submitted its report. We heard that 26 out of 28 of their recommendations were approved in the white paper released. If these recommendations are followed through and implemented, we would consider that they have done a very good job. If prosecutions also follow for all indicted persons then we can restore some confidence back into the real estate sector.
Government should also follow up with a lot of in house deep reflection on the process of building plan approvals. That in essence means they are doing well, but they can and must do more for us to get out of this unfortunate incidents.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Bertram Nwannekanma
Quelle/Source: The Guardian, 07.03.2022
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