By Owoleye Oluwakayode
The Lagos State government has completed new survey mappings, which changed the measurement parameters that affected Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) issued as far back as 40 years ago.
Lagos chapter chairman, Rafiu Adaranijo, Private Practising Surveyors of Nigeria (APPSN), a subgroup of Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, who made this known during its yearly general meeting and Luncheon, themed: “Professionalism and Longevity: Addressing the Dimensions of Wellness and Personal Health,” advised residents to seek information on the new Lagos survey mapping.
He said, “They remapped the whole of Lagos and if there is a new owner and he wants to do a change of title, the location would have been shifted, so the new technology is helping us in solving the problem.
“The new survey mapping has slightly adjusted the physical location of the property and requires different technological equipment for surveyors to be able to catch up with taking accurate measurements.
“We realised that the state government has improved its mapping and changed the coordinates.
“That is why we created new Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) in Lagos State and with that, there is no way we can use the old instruments.”
Adaranijo said instrument procurement was one of the problems, hence, the association’s partnership with instrument vendors to procure RTK Multiband GPS (Emlid) receiver for members to pay in instalment.
“This instrument procurement scheme till date has about 45 subscribers, while over 120 surveyors are currently accessing the (CORS) service even from the Office of the State Surveyor-General,” he said.
He urged property owners to seek clarification from surveyors on how to have a reassessment of their mapping.
Speaking on the proposed Surveyors Estate, he said, over 520 practising surveyors in Lagos deserve decent and affordable homes, adding that the project would take off before July.
He said the association was adopting measures to ward off quacks while appealing to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to ensure surveyors are engaged in all projects.
Adaranijo also called on all tiers of government to partner with surveyors in projects as a means to stop building collapse and construction failure across the nation.
Meanwhile, the guest speaker and Associate Professor at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr. Okezie Kanu, advised surveyors to shun isolation, embrace interactions and engage in regular exercises to ensure their mental health and wellness.
According to him, mental health is the foundation of all wellness; hence, professionals must remain healthy physically and mentally for efficiency.
Earlier, the National President of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Dr. Oluwamotemi Olukayode, represented by Mr. Adewebi Vincent, appealed to surveyors to be the best they could health-wise and emotionally.
“Your greatest asset is yourself. That is why you must take care of your health,” he said.