Implementing FG Policy, Monitoring Of Infrastructure, Solution To Building Collapse In Nigeria – Geodesists

By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan

The body in the communique  identified lack of deformation surveys for monitoring of structures as one of the major factor responsible for frequent building collapse, adding ” absence of deformation surveys for monitoring of structures such as high-rise buildings, bridges and dams is responsible for the frequent building collapse in Lagos and other cities” 
” Speedy implementation and compliance to the Federal Government’s policy on deformation monitoring of infrastructures. An acceptable format for generation and presentation of deformation monitoring data should also be developed. An acceptable format for generation and presentation of deformation monitoring data should also be developed,” it said.

The body maintained that the only solution to reduce incessant building collapse across the country is to ensure speedy implementation and compliance to the Federal Government’s policy on deformation monitoring of infrastructures.”
According to NAG, ” absence of deformation surveys for monitoring of structures such as high-rise buildings, bridges and dams is responsible for the frequent collapses of such structures in the country”,” adding ” inadequate monitoring and poor understanding of subterraneous activities particularly in areas of intensive mining results in poor estimation of the environmental impacts of these activities.”
“Lack of accurate geoid model for the country is a major problem in the development of a common and unified reference system for the country. Insufficiency of gravity data in the country is a setback for geoid determination and modelling.The need to aggressively pursue the provision of geodetic data such as deflection of the vertical components in the country was highlighted.”  

Concerning the alarming rate of retreating Lake Chad, the body described it as a major international boundary issue which has consequential conflict potentials in the country, saying, ” the alarming rate of retreating Lake Chad is a major international boundary issue which has consequential conflict potentials for major socio- economic and National security concern”. 
“A country wide land-based gravity observation campaign should be undertaken to provide sufficient gravity data to facilitate the transformation between ellipsoidal and orthometric heights as well as Geoid determination for the country.
“Establishment of Laplace stations within the Nigerian Geodetic Network, as a matter of necessity, to orient the network-lines and to determine the deflection of the vertical components to provide information on the shape of the geoid. 
“Geodetic solutions to the spatial dynamics of Lake Chad retreating shorelines should be adopted for sustainable planning and management of the socio economic activities and the mitigation of environmental impacts of the shoreline retreat, particularly as it relates to the Nigeria border sectors where significant variations are noticeable.  
At the annual conference, a new set executives comprising of  Prof. T. O. Idowu as President,  Dr. Lawrence Hart, Vice President, Dr. Joseph Dodo, Secretary, Dr Onwuzuligbo Chukwubueze,  Asst. Secretary, Dr. Adekunle Ibrahim,  Treasurer,  Surv. Mary-Rose Okafor,  Financial Secretary, Surv. Arungwa Ikenna, PRO,  Prof. M. N. Ono, Ex-officio and Dr. V. Uzodinnma- Ex-officio.