By Joy Odor
In a major policy shift aimed at strengthening national mapping and data coordination, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the relocation of the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGoF) from the Federal Ministry of Works to the Presidency.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during a briefing after Thursday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which was presided over by the President at the State House.
The transfer, according to the Minister is designed to bolster the strategic deployment of geospatial data in critical areas such as infrastructure development, security planning, and land administration.
While the Minister did not provide in-depth details on the rationale behind the decision, he noted that the move aligns with the administration’s broader reform agenda and its push to leverage geospatial intelligence as a tool for effective governance and national development.
The Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation serves as Nigeria’s lead authority on mapping and geospatial services, providing essential data and technical support to various sectors of the economy.
Its repositioning under the Presidency is expected to enhance its effectiveness and national relevance.
