Preparations for the FIG Working Week 2013 - FIG Office visits Abuja Nigeria

Visits with the local Association NIS, Local Organising Committee, SURCON and the office of the Surveyor General of the Federation
Abuja, Nigeria, 15-19 October 2012

FIG Office represented by Office Manager Louise Friis-Hansen and Office Coordinator Hanne Elster had a very successful trip to Abuja Nigeria for the preparations of the FIG Working Week 6-10 May 2013. The hospitality, professionalism and friendliness we met all over Abuja was overwhelming and encouraging for our further preparations for the Working Week 2013.

Abuja – an interesting capital of Nigeria
Abuja is an interesting city, developed from more or less nothing to the government city within the last 30 years starting in the 1980’ies. The Capital was moved from Lagos to Abuja in 1991. Nigerian surveyors have been deeply involved in the planning of the city. Conference Director Barde Jatau, who is working in the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation, is one of the developers of the city. Streets are wide and traffic is floating, and new office buildings are constantly being built. Not far outside the city centre, Satellite cities have been and are being built, and here also original villages can be found. Abuja is in steady development

Technical tours during the conference will therefore be of high interest since not many places in the world can be said to be build up from scratch within the last 20-30 years.

Conference Venue and Hotel
As the capital of the Federation, apart from government offices and businesses, an International Convention Centre was built as well as several hotels which can accommodate international and national delegates for conferences. The Conference Hotel chosen for WW2013 is the Nicon Luxury Hotel, situated right behind the Conference Centre. WW2013 will take place both at the Conference Centre and the Nicon Luxury Hotel. There is a passage between the two venues.

Safety
Safety at the FIG Working Week 2013 is high on the agenda. The Local Organising Committee is doing their utmost to show all participants their hospitality and the nice Nigerian atmosphere. The country has for years been shattered by a reputation of insecurity which is a pity for the city of Abuja and its inhabitants. Already at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, participants at the Working Week 2013 will be greeted by a welcoming committee upon arrival, who will guide the participants how to get to their hotels. International participants are encouraged in advance to inform the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors about their travel itinerary so that they are prepared for meeting them at the airport.

Although it is secure to walk around in Abuja, it is recommended to walk in groups and not late at night. There are taxis all over the city for convenience. Security in general has highest priority in Abuja having both police guards and local guards – not because it is necessary, but for precautions, and all are very eager to secure that Abuja is a welcoming and safe city.

Accompanying persons
Accompanying persons are very welcome at the FIG Working Week 2013. The Nigerian Institution of Surveyors hosts a “Surveyor Wife’s Association” and they are eager to design an interesting programme for accompanying persons including tours in and around Abuja.

FIG Working Week 2013
The local surveyor Association, the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), is waiting to welcome both international and national delegates for the FIG WW 2013. Many preparations for the Working Week have already been undertaken, and now the more detailed parts of the preparations have started. Therefore, we had some very good and productive days in Abuja getting into the details with all the different aspects of the conference.

Many NIS representatives are deeply involved in the planning and play an active role which is one of the factors to ensure a successful Working Week. Especially Congress Director Barde Jatau, NIS President Stephen Olubode Adeaga NIS Vice President for International affairs, Surveyor Amako Gene, Secretary General Olumide Adewebi, Olajugba Oluropo, Trimble and NIS Admin Secretary Olatunde O. Adejanyu are working intensely on the Working Week preparations.

More information about the conference will soon be available at the Working Week web site: www.fig.net/fig2013 

Visit at SURCON and Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation
Apart form the preparations for the FIG Working Week 2013, the visit also allowed time for a pleasant visit to President Ganiyu A. Agunbiade and Registrar Ayeni Winston at the Surveyors Council of Nigeria, SURCON. After a nice talk at SURCON the delegation was invited to the Surveyor General of the Federation Peter Chigozie Nwilo together with his directors. Both Surveyor General of the Federation and SURCON as well as other official bodies of Nigeria follow the progress of the Working Week closely and have confirmed their extensive support to the conference. Furthermore it is of importance to them that all delegates feel welcome in Nigeria and Abuja, and therefore the security issues have been discussed and given first priority to guarantee an outstanding Working Week.
Louise Friis-Hansen

Abuja is a modern capital city originally planned and built for this purpose.	Satelite cities around Abuja
Nicon Luxury Hotel	Meeting with the management of Nicon Luxury Hotel
Visit together with NIS at the Surveyor Generals office	Meeting with the Directors of the Surveyor General. In the front Barde Jatau, who is also FIG WWW2013 Conference Director
Vice President Gene Amako and Secretary General Olumide Adewebi relaxing between the meetings	Visiting SURCON
Preparation meeting with NIS. Hanne Elster and Louise Friis-Hansen with David Oluwamotemi, Vice President Gene Amako and furthest to the right Conference Director Barde Jatau.	Houses further outside of Abuja
Market outside of Abuja	Market along the main road
Local arts and craft area	At a pottery - all pots are made in traditional style
Market in Abuja	Market in Abuja

31 October 2012