Nigeria is making significant progress in geospatial technology to support smart cities and modern infrastructure development. The Surveyor-General of the Federation, Abdulganiyu Adebomehin, stated this during a one-day workshop on drone imagery and street view data for the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
Adebomehin highlighted Nigeria’s dedication to leveraging technology for national growth. He expressed pride in the country’s achievements in geospatial mapping, emphasizing its role in shaping smart cities. He noted that for smart city development, detailed geospatial data with high-resolution imagery is essential.
He revealed that Nigeria had completed mapping 20 out of 35 approved blocks but had temporarily paused before resuming the process. He assured that efforts to complete the remaining blocks were ongoing.
The Surveyor-General linked geospatial technology to the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, underscoring its importance in planning and development. He also pointed out the role of drone technology in modern warfare and infrastructure planning, emphasizing its potential impact.
He stressed that staying ahead in technological advancements is crucial for Nigeria’s smart city goals. He insisted that Nigeria was leading Africa in this area, despite skepticism from some quarters.
Speaking on digital twins, Azeez Olaniyi, Head of the Department of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, explained how this technology could revolutionize urban planning. He mentioned its application in border management, citing collaborations between agencies such as Border Community Development and the Nigerian Immigration Services.
Olaniyi highlighted how digital twins are traditionally used for cities but can also be applied to border regions. He referenced South Korea, where digital twins monitor airport activities in real-time. He explained that this concept could be adapted to various aspects of Nigerian infrastructure and governance.
He further described the advantages of digital twins in urban development, infrastructure planning, and disaster management. He explained how virtual modeling could eliminate the need for physical site visits, saving time and resources. He emphasized that high-resolution mapping could enhance government projects, including rail networks, road expansions, and electricity distribution.
According to him, digital twins could streamline decision-making for government projects. Instead of conducting physical surveys, planners can use virtual simulations to determine the best routes for roads, power lines, and pipelines. He added that geospatial data would be instrumental in developing Nigeria’s petroleum pipeline network.
Olaniyi also mentioned that this technology could support population census efforts. He explained that with high-resolution mapping, authorities could estimate the number of residents per apartment, making census exercises more accurate and cost-effective.
He stressed that geospatial advancements would save the government significant resources while improving efficiency in planning and execution.
