SCIENCE FELLOW AIDS NIGERIAN GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

UNCLAS ABUJA 000292 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE PASS TO USTR TREASURY FOR DAN PETERS USDOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS USDOC FOR 3130/USFC/OIO/ANESA/DHARRIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TPHY SENV OTRA EAGR NI SUBJECT: SCIENCE FELLOW AIDS NIGERIAN GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ¶1. Summary: Embassy Abuja hosted a Science Fellow from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in fall 2006, who worked with Nigerian Geological survey to provide advice and recommendations on strengthening their remote sensing development. End Summary. Background on Nigeria's Geological Survey -------------- ¶2. Founded in 1919, in the 1980's the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) experienced a serious a decline by the mi-1990's had only a small staff. The new Ministry for Solid Minerals, created in 1999, sought to revive the agency. In 2003 a new director was appointed and a larger budget approved, with the task of providing geological data and services to potential investors. Nigeria has large reserves of marketable solid minerals Geology maps identifying many deposits are available for the whole country at 1:250,000 scale. For some areas more detailed maps of 1:50,000 are being conducted, in some cases using GPS, and Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (RS/GIS) technology. The New Remote Sensing Lab -------------- ¶3. In 2006 the NGSA began to develop a RS/GIS lab in Abuja. Some staff members have gotten basic software training and two people more extensive training at a Nigerian university. The two packages in use are ESRI ArcGIS and Integrated land and water Information surveys (ILWIS) a European package often used in Africa, but unfamiliar to most U.S. users. The labs most immediate need is for bigger computers that can handle satellite imagery, followed by more extensive technical training. There are three sources for RS training in Nigeria: The Regional Center for Training in Aerospace Surveys at Ile-Ife, the National Center for Remote Sensing in Jos, and the Ministry of Agriculture Remote Sensing Lab in Kaduna, which does soil mapping. A Sample Project -------------- ¶4. While in Nigeria, the USDA science fellow, worked on a remote sending project in Minna to create an updated geological bulletin for the area, which has a large sedimentary depositional region next to an area of basement crystalline rock that NGSA geologists were having trouble demarking from ground observation or aerial photography. Using three-band imagery from the Nigerian satellite and applying image enhancement and classification techniques, the team was able to yield a good demarcation in part of the zone. They also will use aerial photography from a different season and Landsat imagery to further refine the delineation and do on-the-ground checks for the final product. Recommendations Provided -------------- ¶5. The Science fellow gave the NGSA specific recommendations on what kind of hardware, software, and field equipment the agency should acquire to complete the tasks. He made specific training recommendations, including seconding some staff from other remote sensing bodies for extended periods to do in-house training. He provided some recommendations on how to organize staff duties to handle tasks most efficiently. He provided some guidance on developing standard procedures, protocols and checklists. He recommended that NGSA look at developing a close working relationship with the Ministry of Agriculture remote sensing lab in Kaduna, and that it digitize or convert to PDS its significant stock of analog maps and geological bulletins, which could then be placed in the internet. Conclusions -------------- ¶6. The Fellow noted that the staff of the newly empowered NGSA is working hard and with real enthusiasm to create a modern agency that will move into the digital age. They want to provide a wealth of data on Nigeria's extensive mineral resources to support the development of mining. If properly equipped and trained, the RS/GIS lab would play an important role in this endeavor. Post was happy to host the Science Fellow from USDA, which provided the U.S. an opportunity to support Nigerian SCIENTISTS and technicians working to develop a sector with great potential for diversifying and developing Nigeria's economy. CAMPBELL