The Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON) has said that Nigeria can significantly reduce insecurity if government and stakeholders adopt smarter, technology-driven land management systems nationwide.
Speaking at the board’s 2025 Annual Valuers Assembly in Lagos with the theme, “50 Years of Regulatory Excellence: Golden Legacies and Brighter Tomorrow,” former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), said that poor planning, unchecked slum expansion, and weak land administration have contributed to urban crime and instability.
Buratai noted that many Nigerian cities are still characterised by unplanned settlements that lack roads, drainage systems, recreational spaces, schools, and essential public infrastructure—conditions that fuel insecurity.
He said liveable, organised urban environments naturally deter criminal activities because they promote healthier living conditions and stronger community structures.
According to him, estate surveyors and valuers are central to tackling the problem because they help governments and communities design, regulate, and maintain orderly land-use systems.
“Government cannot deliver safe and liveable cities without the input of estate surveyors and valuers. When communities are properly laid out—with roads, pavements, schools, markets, hospitals, recreation centres—people live better and crime reduces,” he said.
The Acting Chairman of ESVARBON, Prof. Terzungwe Dugeri, said that regulating the profession has become even more critical in a globalised, tech-driven world.
He warned that as the economy transforms, surveyors are frequently pressured to compromise standards, making ethical regulation essential.
He stressed that the board is adopting digital tools, virtual platforms, and modern technologies to strengthen monitoring, registration, and quality control.
“Technology has changed our practice. We must embrace it while upholding the highest ethical standards. All eyes are on estate surveyors and valuers,” he said.
Also speaking, the Registrar of ESVARBON, Janet Shehu, emphasised that practitioners must fully embrace digital transformation, including artificial intelligence, to remain relevant and deliver accurate, transparent services.
She said the board expects strict adherence to ethical codes as it works to modernise the profession and support national development.
