METADATA: Surveyor-General calls for more budgetary allocation

The capital budgetary allocation to the Office of the Surveyor General in the 2024 Appropriation Act of N4,464bn has been described as inadequate to meet the challenging demand for reliable data storage and seamless access by ministries, departments and agencies.

This concern for seamless access to metadata by Ministries, Department and Agency (MDAs) of government and other national development requirements has informed the call for more funding by the Surveyor General of the Federation, Surv. Abuduganiyu Adebomehin.

The Surveyor General made the call while briefing the permanent secretary of the ministry of works, Dr. Yakubu Kofar mata

The Nigerian Tribune can report that N6.135bn is 150% higher of its last year’s budgetary allocation of N2.550bn.

The 2024 allocation shows a capital expenditure of N4,464,764,028 translating to 73% in the current Fiscal year while it had N2.550bn for capital project in the 2023 budget.

However, the surveyor general noted that, important, for seamless sectoral development was the access to mapping cloud storage system and this has to be prioritize for vital information needed for vital development data in all facets of national development and growth.

“One of our critical projects that need urgent attention at the office is keeping our data in cloud storage for easy accessibility by all that require the service, but inadequate budgetary allocation is negatively affecting the execution of the project”, Surv. Abuduganiyu said.

He said the office has created and maintained National Repository of Metadata for all trigonometrical, cadastral, topographical, hydrographic, and geodetic data in the federation, and that the office is determined to maintain the vision of meeting the geospatial information needs of the country in all ramifications and its mission of providing timely, reliable, and accurate geospatial information to users.

According to him, “Surveying and Mapping are the bedrock of any sustainable development, hence more investments are required for the office to meet its constitutional and statutory roles for sustainable national development and security.

This call is even more apt now, following the greater awareness and requests from various MDAs on the use of geospatial information for their sustainable planning and for informed decision making”, he said.

Tribune Online can report that with a 73% Capital budget for the Office, it has witnessed a shift from the past in funding Capital projects.

In his response, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Yakubu Kofar mata harped on the importance of mapping in national development and advised the Surveyor General to write a letter of appeal with justification for more funding to execute priority projects.