The Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGOF) has kicked off a major mapping project of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) using high-tech drone technology to boost development, security, and city planning.
The Surveyor-General, Mr Abuduganiyu Adebomehin, revealed this during a workshop held in Abuja. The project is being done in partnership with PLACE, a U.S.-based organisation, and will use drone imagery and street-view data from the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
According to Adebomehin, the drone-based project is a major step forward for Nigeria in using modern geospatial tools to support smart city planning and sustainable development. “We are processing over 17,000 images. Without cloud storage, this amount of data would be impossible to manage. This project will help us stay on track with global trends in geospatial mapping,” he said.
He also linked the project to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying it was made possible through the support of key ministers who pushed for the necessary approvals.
“This technology is changing the game. It will help with search and rescue, give disaster alerts, and improve security. Drones are not just for fancy pictures anymore — they are a tool for national growth,” Adebomehin added.
He encouraged other government agencies and private sector players to collaborate and take full advantage of the new innovation.
Also speaking at the event, OSGOF’s Head of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Mr Azeez Afeez, said the office’s job is to coordinate all mapping and survey activities across Nigeria and make accurate geospatial data available for use.
He explained that drone mapping and digital twin technology (virtual copies of buildings and infrastructure) are already helping countries like South Korea monitor airports in real time and manage cities better.
“We can apply this in Nigeria for things like airport monitoring, border control, urban planning, and even disaster management. A digital twin lets you test any changes to a building or city virtually before doing it physically. This is the foundation of a smart city,” he explained.
He added that without this type of technology, Nigeria may struggle to fully modernise its land administration and city development.
