The Federal Government has announced plans to embark on a nationwide remapping exercise for the first time in more than five decades, aimed at strengthening national planning, improving infrastructure delivery, and promoting good governance.

The Surveyor-General of the Federation (SGOF), Abduganiyu Adeyemi Adebomehin, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with The Nation following the extension of his tenure for another two years. He described the initiative as one of his top priorities as he continues to lead the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGOF).

Adebomehin explained that the forthcoming exercise will align Nigeria with the United Nations’ recommendation that all cities and countries should be periodically remapped to reflect changes in development patterns and population growth.

According to him, the project will directly support President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by providing accurate, data-driven insights to guide investment decisions, urban development, and infrastructure planning.

“Up-to-date geospatial data is the foundation of sustainable development. This project will reposition OSGOF as a central player in Nigeria’s development process,” Adebomehin said.

He revealed that the National Geospatial Data Infrastructure (NGDI) will serve as the backbone of the remapping effort, describing it as a central digital repository that will store and provide access to critical national data.

The NGDI, he said, will contain comprehensive information on the location of schools, hospitals, markets, farms, industrial sites, and other key facilities across the country, accessible to government agencies, private sector stakeholders, and researchers.

The Surveyor-General noted that Nigeria’s last comprehensive mapping exercise was carried out in the 1970s, adding that the nation’s physical and demographic landscape has transformed drastically due to rapid urbanisation, population expansion, and infrastructure growth.

He emphasised that the new remapping project would not only capture these developments but also ensure accurate definition of national and international boundaries, particularly with neighbouring countries such as Cameroon, Benin Republic, and Niger.

Adebomehin stressed that the exercise will leverage modern geospatial technologies and digital systems to guarantee precision, accessibility, and long-term data management.

 “Mapping remains the foundation of every form of development because it informs policy design, infrastructure delivery, environmental management, and security operations,” he added.