Surveyors under the auspices of The Association of Private Practising Surveyors of Nigeria (APPSN) have called for urgent judicial reforms to curb quackery and fraudulent practices in the profession.

They spoke in Lagos at the APPSN’s yearly professional workshop, themed “Building the Surveyor: Integrating Legacy Practice with Innovation and Corporate Excellence.”

Participants at the association’s yearly professional workshop and luncheon observed that slow court processes and weak enforcement of existing laws were enabling impostors to issue fake survey plans and double land allocations.

According to them, the development was fuelling disputes that delayed critical infrastructure and housing projects in Lagos State.

APPSN’s Chairman, Lagos Branch, Afolabi Olaoluwa, said that the body was strengthening internal discipline while collaborating with the government to rid the profession of quacks.

“Our parent body, the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, already has an ethics committee. Any member found guilty of malpractice faces sanctions according to the severity of the offence.

“But we cannot do it alone. We must be patient with, and also partner with the government as it develops modalities to reduce unprofessionalism in public projects,” the chairman said.

Olaoluwa also underscored the need to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies.

“AI will not take our jobs; it will make them simpler if we learn to use it. With AI-enabled equipment, what used to take days can now be done in minutes.

“That is why we are organising training to ensure our members are not left behind,” he said.
Ayokunnu Adesina, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Survey Matters, commended APPSN for taking proactive steps, urging stronger collaboration with the state.

According to him, the state appreciates the Association’s blockchain and online verification initiatives, which are aligned with the state’s plan to make land transactions faster, more transparent and less prone to abuse.

Adesina assured participants that the state government would continue to review policies and support judicial reforms to protect genuine professionals and investors.

“We cannot allow quackery to derail critical projects such as the coastal road, the new rail lines and housing schemes.

“Surveyors are the backbone of orderly growth, and we will keep working with you to ensure standards are upheld,” he said.

The keynote speaker at the event, Mr Oluwaseyi Mapaderoun, noted that the legal system must keep pace with Lagos’ rapid urban growth.

“We catch people producing fake survey plans, but they go unpunished for years because the judicial process is overworked and still analogous.

“Without a deterrent, others will continue to defraud the public. We need reforms that fast-track land cases and punish impostors to protect investors and professionals alike,” he said.

He added that the association was already using technology to promote transparency and self-regulation.

“We’ve introduced a ‘Red Dot’ programme and a public online register so that anyone can verify authentic surveyors.

“We are also exploring blockchain to create tamper-proof records,” he said.

The APPSN resolved to deepen collaboration with the government and tertiary institutions to produce well-trained surveyors and reduce dependence on outdated practices while safeguarding the profession’s legacy of precision and public trust.