Benjamin Omoike l Wednesday, December 14, 2016
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), on Monday urged the public to desist from indulging in backdating of survey plans and patronising fake and unregistered surveyors.
Chairman of Lagos branch of the Institution, Surv. Olugbenga Alara, who stated this at a Town Hall Meeting held in Imota as part of activities marking the 31st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the branch, said it was important for members of the public to desist from patronising touts who would assure them of helping to backdate survey plans.
He said apart from the fact that such was against the law establishing the Institution, no registered member of the association would ever promise to do such, as it is against the law and ethics of the profession.
Speaking at the meeting which was held at the Palace of Ranodu of Imota Land, Oba Ajibade Bakare-Agoro, Alara said the NIS, as the umbrella body for professional surveyors, has been at the forefront of canvassing for strict adherence to due process, especially with regards to surveying, saying that the profession has a critical role to play in ensuring proper planning and order in the society.
He said: “We are here as part of activities marking our AGM to sensitize and advance relationship with members of the public on the roles of Surveyors in the society.
“The NIS is an organisation that takes seriously the issue of ethics and compliance with due process and we like to use this medium to urge the public to avoid any Surveyor that tells them he can help to backdate survey plan. There is nothing in our law that support this and no registered member of the Institution can tell you he can do that.
“As a matter of fact, any Surveyor that says he can do that must be an impostor and that could be a way to detect fake surveyors. Before giving job to any Surveyor, do a proper background check and ask the necessary questions,” Alara said.
Responding, Oba Bakare-Agoro described the surveying profession as a noble one which is very important in the society.
He expressed deep appreciation to the Lagos State branch of the Institution for deeming it appropriate to hold the first ever Town Hall Meeting at his Palace and by extension in Imota, and urged the public to always support the profession.
Earlier, the team made a brief stop over at Home of God’s Grace For Orphans and Widows in Agbowa, where they donated several items to the orphanage home as part of activities marking the AGM.
The grand finale of the AGM with the theme: “The Changing Role of Surveying Profession In The 21st Century – In The Light Of The Trend In Modern Technology,” will hold on December 14, 2016 at the Anchor Events Centre in Agidingbi,
Ikeja, under the chairmanship of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, while the guest lecturer is Dr. Ishola Agbaje, the Executive Director of African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education In English (ARCSSTEE).
