The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has said that the current administration has made significant strides in strengthening the use of geospatial technology, recognising its potential to enhance governance efficiency and economic development.
According to Nnaji, the government has effectively leveraged geospatial tools to identify and eliminate existing revenue blockages, streamline tax collection processes, and improve resource management.
“The president has mainstreamed geospatial technologies into the blocking of revenue leakages and the creation of new revenue streams.”
“He has also approved four new satellites for Nigeria; these efforts are expected to aid all the work being done within this ecosystem,” he stated at the 21st Annual General Assembly/Conference and GIS Day organised by the Geoinformation Society of Nigeria, on Monday in Abuja.
The event, themed “Leveraging Geospatial Technologies for Integrated National Development,” was attended by the Minister, who was represented by the Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Matthew Adepoju. He stated that geospatial technologies are indispensable in addressing critical challenges such as urban planning, agricultural productivity, disaster management, and infrastructure development.
“Geospatial technologies are no longer optional tools; they are essential in addressing challenges such as urban planning, agricultural productivity, disaster management, and infrastructure development,” he said.
“By integrating these technologies into our decision-making processes, we can enhance precision, improve efficiency, and encourage sustainable growth across sectors. As a nation, we stand at a pivotal moment where innovation and technology must drive our developmental aspirations,” he added.
Geospatial technologies, which involve the use of computer hardware, software, and data, are used to capture, analyse, and display geographically referenced data. These technologies help us understand and make informed decisions about the complex and dynamic world.
Speaking about the ministry’s commitment to geospatial technology, the minister expressed that, “The Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology is committed to promoting an environment that supports research, development, and the adoption of emerging technologies, including geospatial innovations, to tackle societal challenges and unlock new opportunities.”
“Let us renew our commitment to leveraging geospatial technologies to build a more integrated, inclusive, and resilient nation. Together, we can unlock the full potential of these tools to transform lives, communities, and our country,” he concluded.
Also speaking at the event, the President of the Geoinformation Society of Nigeria, Fitka Bilshakka, advocated for universities to incorporate geoinformation into the Nigerian academic curriculum.
“We are asking universities to develop a curriculum on geoinformation science so that our young people can develop an interest in it and recognise its importance. That is why we have been visiting universities and secondary schools to emphasise the importance of Geographic Information Systems (GIS),” he said.
Speaking on the advantages of geospatial information, he stated that geospatial technology could address almost all the problems facing the country if used judiciously.
“The enormous problems confronting our nation today, from security and the environment to socio-economic issues, can be tackled using geospatial technology. It is essential that repositioning our nation requires knowledge of geospatial technology to catch up with the rest of the world. The world has entered the fourth industrial revolution, where things are done differently using artificial intelligence.”
“If Nigeria is to move forward in the right direction, geospatial science and technology, along with geospatial intelligence, must play a major role in its developmental programmes, starting with the development of a robust geocoded addressing system to aid location-based services, business intelligence, security, and emergency services,” he stated.
The GEOSON president further expressed that geospatial technologies have increased the synergy between data across various sectors, making spatial data infrastructure more important and readily available for decision-making and planning across Nigeria’s economy.
He urged state governments to prioritise the use and application of geoinformation in their respective states, adding, “I want to sincerely urge our state governments to give greater priority to the use and application of geoinformation in their states. I would also like to thank the governments of FCT, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Plateau, Lagos, Cross River, Gombe, Edo, Kwara, Taraba, and Benue for promoting GIS technology for good governance and development.”
Similarly, the Chairman of the National Population Commission, Nasir Kwarra, emphasised that, with Nigeria facing diverse socio-economic challenges, geospatial technology could offer a transformative approach to addressing these issues.
“As our nation grapples with diverse socio-economic challenges, geospatial technologies offer a transformative approach to addressing these issues. By integrating geospatial data into national planning, we can solve existing challenges and anticipate and proactively respond to future ones.”
Nasir also stated that the National Population Commission recognises the critical role that accurate demographic and geospatial data play in driving sustainable national development.
“At the National Population Commission, we recognise the critical role that accurate demographic and geospatial data play in driving sustainable national development. We collect, collate, analyse, publish, and disseminate such data. To support these functions, NPC has established a robust geospatial framework, leveraging Geographic Information System technologies,” he said
