Step-by-Step Guide to Getting a Survey Plan in Nigeria (With Costs & Requirements): 2025 UPDATED.

Now that we’ve established why a survey plan is critical for land purchase, let’s break down the process of obtaining one, the different types, and how much it will cost you.

First, what exactly is a survey plan? A Survey Plan is an official document that maps out the exact location, boundaries, and coordinates of a land parcel. It confirms whether the land is free from government acquisition, encroachment, or overlapping claims.

Without it, you’re buying land based on “hope and trust,” and hope is not a real estate strategy.

Types of Survey Plans & How to Get Them in Nigeria

1. Provisional Survey Plan (Private Survey)

Best for: Personal land ownership, before registration

This is the most common type of survey plan and is used to determine land boundaries before you register the land formally. It is drafted by a registered surveyor and is essential for: ? Knowing the exact land size and coordinates ? Checking for encroachments and disputes ? Validating land ownership before title processing

Steps to Get a Provisional Survey Plan

1?? Hire a Licensed Surveyor – Find a registered surveyor (avoid quacks). 2?? Surveyor Visits the Land – Physical inspection and boundary mapping using GPS coordinates. 3?? Preparation of Survey Plan – The surveyor drafts and plots the coordinates. 4?? Delivery of the Survey Plan – You receive a soft/hard copy, typically within 2-4 weeks.

? Timeline: 2 - 4 weeks ?? Cost Estimate: ?150k - ?500k (Varies by state, location, and land size)

2. Registered Survey Plan

Best for: Land title processing (C of O, Governor’s Consent, etc.)

A Registered Survey Plan is officially recognized by the Surveyor General’s Office in your state. This is a legal requirement if you intend to: ? Obtain a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) ? Apply for Governor’s Consent ? Use the land for commercial purposes or resale

Steps to Get a Registered Survey Plan

1?? Hire a Registered Surveyor – Ensure they are accredited by the Surveyor General’s Office in your state. 2?? Conduct a Land Search – Verify if the land is free from government acquisition. 3?? Survey & Documentation – The surveyor measures, plots, and documents your land coordinates. 4?? Submission to the Surveyor General’s Office – For official recognition and charting. 5?? Approval & Registration – Once approved, your land’s record is stored in the Surveyor General’s database.

? Timeline: 1 - 3 months ?? Cost Estimate: ?400k - ?1.5M (Depending on state & land size)

3. Composite Survey Plan

Best for: Large estates, commercial lands, and land mergers

A Composite Survey Plan is required when: ? Merging multiple plots into one title ? Developing a large estate with multiple owners ? Avoiding disputes in joint ownership situations

Steps to Get a Composite Survey Plan

1?? Hire a Professional Surveyor & Town Planner – They map out all land parcels into one single document. 2?? Verify Existing Titles – Ensures there’s no conflicting ownership. 3?? Government Verification & Approval – The Surveyor General’s Office reviews the mapping. 4?? Final Registration – Once verified, all the lands are merged into one composite plan.

? Timeline: 2 - 6 months ?? Cost Estimate: ?2M - ?10M (Based on land size & number of plots)

4. Survey Charting (Land Verification & Approval)

Best for: Investors, homebuyers, and due diligence

Survey charting is not a type of survey plan, but a verification process to confirm that a land is not under government acquisition or dispute.

This is where you hear things like "This land falls under committed government land." If you buy such land, demolition is only a matter of time.

Steps to Get a Land Charting Report

1?? Get the Survey Plan from Seller – Ask for a Registered Survey Plan from the landowner or estate company. 2?? Submit for Verification – Take the survey copy to the Surveyor General’s Office in your state. 3?? Review & Confirmation – The office checks if the land is free or under acquisition. 4?? Approval or Red Flag – You get a report confirming if the land is safe to buy or has issues.

? Timeline: 1 - 3 weeks ?? Cost Estimate: ?50k - ?250k (Varies by state)

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Survey Plan in Nigeria?

Survey costs vary based on: ?? Land location – High-demand areas like Lagos, Abuja, and PH are more expensive. ?? Land size – The bigger the land, the higher the cost. ?? Government regulations – Some states have higher registration fees.

Here’s a general cost estimate by location:

StateProvisional SurveyRegistered SurveyLagos?300k - ?800k?500k - ?2MOgun?150k - ?500k?400k - ?1.5MAbuja?400k - ?1M?800k - ?3MRivers?350k - ?900k?600k - ?2MOyo?200k - ?600k?500k - ?1.5M

Final Advice: Never Buy Land Without a Survey Plan

Here’s the golden rule: If the seller refuses to show you a survey plan, don’t buy the land. ??

A proper survey plan is your first layer of security before making any land purchase.

What to do next? ? Planning to buy land? Let me handle the verification & due diligence for you. ? Looking for lands with complete documentation? I sell properties from ?500k - ?40M, with valid C of O, Gazette, Governor’s Consent, and Registered Survey Plans. ? Want investment opportunities? I have real estate options that give 30%-50% ROI in 12 months. ? Need a house or commercial property? I have options from off-plan homes with payment plans to already-built properties.

?? Send me a message now: wa.me/2348134273672

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Land investment is serious business. Do it the right way.

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