The Surveyor-General of the Federation, Abudulganiyu Adebomehin, has announced a crackdown on illegal shoreline structures in Nigeria. All such buildings will be demolished.
In a statement issued by the Head of Information and Public Relations, Henry David, Adebomehin explained that the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGOF) now operates under the Presidency. He said this move gives the office more powers and responsibilities in managing Nigeria’s shoreline areas.
The Surveyor-General directed that all applications for Certificates of Occupancy, permits, and survey plans along shorelines be suspended. “These requests will remain on hold until they are reviewed and approved by OSGOF,” he said.
He also ordered the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to submit all past shoreline-related approvals to his office. In addition, he warned that any documents already submitted to other agencies must now be redirected to OSGOF.
Adebomehin criticized some state governments for allocating shoreline land without OSGOF’s involvement. He stressed that such actions go against the law. “The enforcement unit will demolish any illegal structure within the shoreline right of way. This is an executive order. It complies with the Law of the Sea,” he stated. He also emphasized that OSGOF holds the official maps required for shoreline management.
The Surveyor-General praised the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) and the Association of Private Practising Surveyors of Nigeria (APPSN) for supporting the profession. He assured them of continuous collaboration.
During the visit, NIS Surveyor-General Folakemi Odunewu congratulated Adebomehin on OSGOF’s transition to the Presidency. She presented the institution’s seven-point agenda, which includes digital transformation of the National Secretariat, stronger public relations and advocacy, broader engagement with stakeholders, review of the Survey Coordination Act, development of professional excellence structures, and advocacy for a dedicated Ministry of Surveying and Geoinformatics.
