The Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGOF) wants to train its personnel in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or drone usage to eradicate insecurity in Nigeria.
Ebisintei Awudu, the Surveyor-General, who was represented by Barde Jatau, the Co-ordination Director of the Office disclosed this when a delegation from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, led by the Capt. Abbas Ambursa, Head, Flight Simulator Department visited the office.
Awudu said the unmanned aerial vehicle or drone technology training which will be carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian College of Aviation, Zaria and introduced in the battle will greatly ensure a win-win situation for the armed forces, as the insurgents and other criminals will have no hiding place, thus ensuring a total eradication of insecurity from the country.
He emphasized that the office which was constitutionally charged with the responsibility of producing topographical maps, charts, etc, for the country, is also ready to send its staff on training for the acquisition of this new technology needed for the purpose of acquiring Geo-spatial data (digital aerial photographs) in difficult terrains, in its bid to contribute to the fight against terrorism.
This is just as he said that with the present challenges of insurgency facing the nation, and the hazards involved in accessing some of the inaccessible terrains, as are found in some areas, there is the need for the provision of maps and charts to empower the security operatives in its continued fight to stamp out terrorism and other criminal activities.
Ambursa, on behalf of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, said that the institution was involved in the training of pilots and would therefore, require partnership with the Office on the possibility of acquiring flight values, operational and navigational maps for flight training purposes.
A 5-man committee headed by Yemi Adebomehin, Asst. Director, Geodesy was therefore set up to examine the available charts and maps with a view to producing new ones in line with international best practice as well as explore other ways of collaboration for mutual benefits of the two offices in particular and the entire country at large.