The science of "survey" was known to ancient Egyptians. Drawings and

paintings on the walls of temples and tombs, and writings on papyrus, prove that ancient. Egyptians practiced surveying long ago. Paintings on the temples of Thebe display land-surveyors using linear instruments.

Nigeria has a land area of 925,768 km2 or approximately 92,4 million ha., which places her as the 14th largest country in Africa. With a population estimated at 80 million, every inhabitant theoretically has only 1.15 ha of land available for meeting basic economic, industrial and social needs. Lying between latitudes 4°N and 12°N, on the west coast of Africa and with 680 km of coastline, land is not homogenous and is therefore not fully accessible ant! utilizable for any or all of these basic needs.

The Industrial Development Board at its fourth session-'recommended to the General Assembly the convening of a Special International Conference of UNIDO immediately after the fifth session of the Board. The General Assembly subsequently decided 8 June 1971 in Vienna.

This report is the first in a series of research studies that the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) will produce with a view to improving the understanding of the links between land tenure systems and sustainable development in Africa. In a continent where 80 percent of the population relies on agriculture for their livelihood, the formulation and implementation of appropriate land policies is a paramount factor in poverty reduction strategies. Research is therefore needed to help policymakers take learned decisions when addressing land tenure issues.