Nigeria Plans Framework for Geospatial Data Governance
The President of the Geoinformation Society of Nigeria (GEOSON), Dr. Fikta Steve, says the proposed GEOSON bill aims to establish clear guidelines for the use and management of geospatial data in Nigeria.
Steve stated in Abuja on Tuesday that the measure was not intended to replace the functions of the nation’s professional associations.
The goal of the GEOSON bill is to create a parliamentary act that will govern, support, and advance the use of geospatial technology in both the public and private sectors.
He recalled that the law had been opposed by pertinent professional associations during previous National Assemblies, but they had misinterpreted its purpose.
Steve claimed that the delay in the bill’s passing was due to these professional misunderstandings.
He said, “It is sad to say that in the 10th Assembly, we have not presented the bill yet because of misunderstandings about the bill by some professional bodies.
“Some of the professional bodies think that the GEOSON bill is going to take away their profession.
“So, we have to allow the bill to go for public hearing by engaging relevant stakeholders to get inputs from other organisations and also engage in more advocacy.”
He said that GEOSON was not after taking over anybody’s profession but rather after standards.
“We are after standards; we are saying, let there be standards of usage of geospatial data in Nigeria, let there be up-to-date data,” Steve said.
The president added that the bill’s provisions included separating the functions of government entities tasked with data production.
This, he said, will cut down on government waste, redundancy, and overlapping data.
He revealed that the measure would be presented as an executive law in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology through the office of the Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
Steve went on to say that the strategic partnership will facilitate the legislature’s easier passage of the law.
“We hope that before the end of the 10th National Assembly, the bill will be before the NASS as an executive bill,” he said.
According to the head of GEOSON, his organisation has launched a number of advocacy campaigns and programs to encourage GIS instruction in secondary schools, colleges, and other postsecondary educational establishments.
He added that the effort was starting to gather steam and that one of its goals was to capture them young.
In order to promote innovation and efficiency in the field, he reaffirmed GEOSON’s dedication to developing a new generation of GIS specialists and expanding geospatial data management in Nigeria.
NAN
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