The Association of Private Practicing Surveyors of Nigeria (APPSN) in Lagos State on Wednesday launched a new online app for a database of members, to ward off quacks and ensure adequate regulation.

APPSN is a subgroup of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS).

The app was unveiled during the 2022 Annual Workshop and Luncheon of the association in Ikeja with the theme: “Surveying Safety; Health and Well Being of a Surveyor”.

APPSN National Chairman, Thomas Dabiri, said the app would assist in creating more awareness as the nation’s laws do not allow surveyors to advertise.

“The web will make accurate information and database available to the public.

“We are launching the app because technology is key,” he said.

Mr Dabiri said there would no longer be need for surveyors to carry heavy equipment as most transactions could be tidied up electronically before actual field assessments.

He appealed to the federal government to ease drone restriction guidelines for surveyors for efficiency in mapping, flood control, pipelines monitoring and other environmental issues affecting the nation.

“I think the strict restriction on drones is too hard and harsh and we are begging the government to see the need to domicile some of the restrictions under Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON).

“To import drones now, you have to get a letter from the Special Adviser on Security, to the Presidency, a lot of cumbersome bureaucracy which is not good.

“In the long-run, we can’t monitor floods, we can’t monitor the forest, we can’t monitor our ocean, even crime, but if you allow surveyors to have access under SURCON which is our regulatory body, I think it is better,” he said.

Ibikunle Adaranijo, Lagos Branch Chairman, APPSN, who was also chairman of the occasion, said the mobile app would checkmate fake surveyors who were forging registration numbers and impersonating professionals.

Mr Adaranijo said that surveyors’ roles were also being hijacked and the app would prevent surveyors from being shortchanged.

He said surveying was the bedrock of development but lamented that surveyors were neglected in Nigeria, hence the failures noticed in various projects as well as several cases of building collapse.

Earlier, while delivering his welcome speech, he said the association had a vision to always acquaint members with current trends in the field and practice issues, hence the workshop.

Olugbenga Adams, Publicity Secretary, APPSN, in a slide presentation, explained how the mobile app works on various phones and how it could be used globally for payments and general purpose.

Mr Adams said the app would address issues of impersonation, eliminate quacks and make surveying practice in the nation easy and smooth for both clients and professionals.

“The app will give the best way to get to the office of the surveyor,” he said. 

(NAN)