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handle most of its jobs. Also, there are nineteen survey departments in the nineteen states of 
the country carrying out their statutory functions of cadastral surveys and large scale mapping 
In addition, there are scores of private survey firms complementing the operations of the 
Federal and State Survey Departments. About ninety five: percent of the entire country has 
been mapped at 1 :50,000 and most of the large urban centres have been covered by 1/25,000, 
1/10,000 or 1/1,000 series. 
Fajemirokun (1980) reported that a strong planimetric geodetic control network cons- 
isting of about 5000 triangulation and 3000 primary traverse stations covering an area of over 
half a million square kilometres has been established. In addition, a gravity survey network and 
a complete geo-magnetic survey of the country have also been established. 
3.0 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND PHOTOGRAMMETRIC MAPPING IN NIGERIA 
There is no available record of the first ever aerial photograph taken in Nigera. However, 
the first photogrammetric mapping was started in 1957 using old aerial photographs taken 
by the British Royal Airforce. By the early 1960's Federal Surveys bought its first photog- 
rammetric equipment. Dashe (1986) reported that the former Northern Nigeria Survey 
Department in Kaduna also acquired a Multiplex and Santoni Stereomicrometers in the early 
1960 s, 
Although the entire country was covered by topographical maps of scales 1/100,000, 
1/125,000 and 1/1,000,000 at independence in 1960, most of these early maps were not 
contoured map& More accurate base maps were needed for several national development pro- 
jects. Hence, a real photogrammetric mapping of Nigeria started in 1962. For the next ten 
years much of this mapping was done by foreign survey organisations under a technical assis- 
tance program. Prominent were the Directorate of Oversea Surveys of the United Kingdom and 
the Canadian Aero Service. At the end of 1974 about 9896 of Nigeria has been covered with 
aerial photography at the scale of 1/40,000 for the compilation of 1/50,000 maps with 20 
metre contours, By 1976 most urban areas (about 49 towns) had been covered with aerial 
photography at the scale of 1/6,000. 
3.1 ROLE OF FEDERAL SURVEYS 
Federal Surveys has the statutory responsibility for the provision of topographical maps in 
Nigeria In the past, most of the aerial survey work was given out on contract to private mapping 
companies. Today, the emphasis is on map production by direct labour. The Photogrammetric 
Section of Federal Surveys has an impressive list of photogrammetric equipment which include: 
One Wild A-10 
four Wild A-8 
three Wild B8S 
three Kern PG-2 
two Wild PUG-4 
one Wild PPO8 Orthophoto equipment. 
The available photogrammetry manpower is over one hundred and twenty comprising; 
6 professionals 
20 technologists 
and 80 technicians.