Association of Private Practising Surveyors of Nigeria (APPSN) has sought legislation to check quackery and protect Nigerians against fraudsters.

The affiliate of Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), lamented that many citizens had lost hugely to quacks, owing to the vacuum created by limited professionals in the country.

The call was made at the 2023 professional workshop and luncheon of Lagos branch of APPSN, with the theme: “The Future of the Geospatial Profession, Consulting and Business Prospective.”

Brand chairman, Ibikunle Adaranijo, submitted that quacks constitute problem for professionals, adding that their patrons would suffer losses at the point of seeking Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) approvals.

He said to protect the public; his organisation had undertaken massive sensitisation on risks and benefits of engaging registered surveyors.

According to him, there is an application to guide the public now on necessary information and contacts of registered professionals.

He listed APPSN’s aims and objectives, as well as how it complements the NIS and Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON) to uphold professionalism.

The guest speaker and founder/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), School of Consulting, Dr Shola Ajani, urged more awareness, collaboration and use of technology to check quackery.

He charged the association and parent surveyor bodies to create a platform where quacks could be accommodated and trained to address shortage of experts.

Ajani said: “The entire nation has just about 6,000 experts, and the vacuum has created a huge demand, which helps quacks thrive.

“Surveyors are also guilty of varying their operations from lands to quantities and other aspects of the practice, leaving the public confused. The market place doesn’t know the difference.

“Confusion is responsible for Nigerians’ patronage of quacks, because they are confused about the roles of surveyors.”

He shared business opportunities and insights on how competition, products, clients and proactive steps could make professionals relevant for long.

In his remarks, the guest of honour, Kunle Ogunbadewa, deplored the declining engagement of surveyors.

He stressed that they remain key in achieving precision and efficiency, as far as Nigeria’s development is concerned.

Other speakers and technical sessions discussed pitfalls in survey plans, resolution of ethical issues, ways to avert backdating, validation principles, title resolutions and rules in line with global practices.