The Society of Geophysicists and Computational Geoscientists, SGCG, has decried the rising trend of data hoarding in Nigeria’s geoscience sector.
According to the Society, data hoarding is crippling research, discouraging innovation, and limiting the capacity of young geoscientists to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s development.
The President of SGCG, Prof. Aaron Enechojo Auduson, made this known recently at the society’s SGCG second yearly international conference.
Auduson emphasised that access to reliable data is critical for exploration, analysis, and characterisation of natural resources.
According to him, unlike in Europe, where companies collaborate with universities by providing software, laboratory facilities, and data to advance research, Nigeria continues to frustrate local scientists with restricted access.
“I studied in Europe, where my university in Delft partnered with companies in the UK. One gave me software, another gave me data, and another provided the laboratory where I worked.
“But when I came to Nigeria and wanted to deploy the same tool for Niger Delta studies, I couldn’t continue because the data provided by a company was inconsistent and unreliable. I had to revert to overseas data.
“From the surface, we cannot see what lies beneath. Geophysics allows us to detect, model, and predict the depth, volume, and viability of subsurface resources. Without accurate data, our economy loses, because our strength lies in the natural resources beneath the earth,” he explained.
In his keynote address, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to positioning Nigeria as a global leader in the evolving energy landscape, stressing the critical role of geoscientists in bridging the gap between science and policy.
Komolafe, who was represented by the Director of the Commission’s Lagos Regional Office, Paul Osu, said geoscientists must recognise the essence of policy in driving transformation in the petroleum sector.
“We do not just believe in scientific discovery. We believe in highlighting or connecting science and policy. Because with one statement from the president, the whole dynamics will change,” he said, urging political leaders to embrace the relevance of geology and geoscience in shaping daily life and national development.
“Hydrocarbon revenues remain a significant part of our GDP, yet the realities of price volatility, OPEC-plus production quotas, and the accelerating global energy transition demand that we act strategically. The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) is our foundational framework to reposition Nigeria not as a follower, but as a leader,” he noted.
On his part, the President of the Geological Society of Nigeria, GSN, Malami Uba Saidu, called for stronger data governance and wider adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms to transform Nigeria’s geoscience practice and resource management.
SGCG decries data hoarding in Nigeria’s geoscience sector, proffers solution