SURCON has warned property buyers in Nigeria against engaging unregistered surveyors when buying or acquiring land, highlighting the importance of verifying a surveyor's professional registration and confirming land boundaries before completing a property transaction. For prospective landowners in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, and other parts of Nigeria, hiring a registered surveyor is an important step toward identifying potential land disputes, reviewing survey documents, and making informed property investment decisions.

The warning from the Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON), reported by Punch Newspapers, reinforces the need for proper land verification in Nigeria's property market, where buyers must carefully assess the land, its documentation, and its legal status before making payment.

Surcon President: Surveyor Moshood Onifade Akinwande FNIS

The Risks of Dealing with Unregistered Personnel

According to the council, engaging quacks or unregistered practitioners poses significant legal and financial risks to land buyers. Improper boundary demarcations and unverified survey plans created by unauthorized individuals frequently lead to:

Land Disputes: Inaccurate mapping often causes severe boundary conflicts between neighboring property owners.
Property Loss: Documents issued by unregistered surveyors hold no legal standing in official government land registries, leaving titles vulnerable to invalidation.
Financial Losses: Investors risk losing substantial capital on fraudulent or encumbered properties that lack proper survey clearances.

How Property Buyers Can Find and Verify Registered Surveyors

To safeguard land investments and ensure transactions comply with regulatory standards, SURCON recommends following these steps before hiring a professional or making payments:

1. Use the SURCON Online Verification Portal

SURCON maintains a public registry where land buyers can check the status of any practitioner or firm.

Visit the SURCON Public Surveyor Verification System.
Search using the practitioner's Full Name, SURCON Registration Number, File Number, or State.
You can also check if a firm is enlisted on the SURCON Company Verification Portal.

2. Confirm Physical Document Features

Every legitimate survey plan generated by a licensed surveyor must include:

The SURCON Seal/Stamp: An official, embossed or stamped seal from SURCON.
Registration Details: The surveyor's full legal name and unique SURCON registration number printed beside their signature.
Official Beacon/Pillar Numbers: Standardized pillar identification codes assigned by the state surveyor-general or SURCON.

3. Consult Professional Associations

Property buyers can request referrals from recognized industry bodies:

Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS): Reach out to the local state branch of the NIS for a list of accredited practitioners in your area.
Association of Private Practising Surveyors of Nigeria (APPSN): The NIS subgroup representing private sector field surveyors.

4. Verify Record Copies with the Ministry of Lands

Before finalizing property purchases, verify that the surveyor has lodged a record copy of the survey plan with the Office of the Surveyor-General or Ministry of Lands in the state where the property is located.

SURCON reaffirmed its commitment to standardizing surveying practice in Nigeria and safeguarding the public from fraudulent activities. Property buyers are strongly advised to verify the registration status and credentials of any surveyor before entering into contracts or making payments for landed properties.

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SURCON Warns Property Buyers Against Unregistered Surveyors

SURCON Warns Property Buyers Against Unregistered Surveyors